FORECASTERS HAVE PREDICTED that this winter will be one of the coldest in years, with temperatures set to plummet to the lows experienced during the fabled ‘big freeze’ of 2010.

Noooooo.

Is THIS what we have to look forward to this winter?

1. Upsetting weather maps like this.

YouTube YouTube

The map of Ireland will assume a sort of aqua shade with just tiny pockets of the country retaining their green hue.

2. Daily updates from this guy

Merrion Street / Flickr Merrion Street / Flickr / Flickr

Remember Sean O’Neill from the National Roads Authority? If it snows, get ready to become acquainted with him again.

The Journal The Journal

3. Panic-buying salt.

Buddy's Buddy's

Gritting the driveway with Saxa, you know yourself.

4. Becoming needlessly preoccupied about whether the country has enough salt.

5. Forking out your hard-earned cash for ice shoe grips

Handy Nik Naks Handy Nik Naks

After they become available in Heatons, obviously.

6. Not even being able to enjoy the snow, because it’s turned into light brown sludge.

YouTube YouTube

:(

7. Public transport grinding to a total halt

The bus may be “due” in 6 minutes, but we all know it’s never coming.

8. Extreme car journeys

Warner Bros / YouTube Warner Bros / YouTube / YouTube

Four-hour journeys that make you want to lead a Everybody Hurts-style exodus from the car.

9. Cold-looking RTÉ reporters

YouTube YouTube

You can report from indoors. Honestly, we don’t mind.

10. Excessive use of words like ‘tundra’ and ‘bitter’

YouTube YouTube

“It’s bitterly cold.”

“Tundra-like conditions…”

“ARCTIC TEMPERATURES”

11. And, of course, more gold like this.

#NeverForget

14 of this year’s most amazing home-made costumes to inspire you for Halloween >

11 once-in-a-lifetime winter holiday experiences to make your friends jealous >