Cold and frosty start with rain and drizzle later

A cold and frosty start this morning with some icy patches. However, frost and ice will clear during the morning as cloud thickens from the west and southerly winds freshen. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will move in by late morning, persisting throughout the afternoon and evening. After a very cold start temperatures by late afternoon will range 5 to 7 degrees.

Cloudy and damp overnight with patchy rain and drizzle. Some mist and fog patches also. Minimum temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees with mostly light, variable winds.

Patchy rain and drizzle will clear on Thursday morning to leave it dry for a time with some bright spells. However, showery outbreaks of rain will spread from the west during the afternoon. Maximum temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees in freshening south or southwest winds.

The national outlook for the next few days is for generally unsettled weather.

Some clear spells overnight on Thursday but generally cloudy with showers, merging to longer spells of rain at times, especially in the west and north of the country. Minimum temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in moderate southwest winds.

Friday looks set to start out rather showery. However, good dry and bright periods will develop during the day. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate southwest to west winds. Showers becoming isolated overnight with good clear periods developing. A chilly night with lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees in moderate west winds.

Current indications suggest there'll be a good deal of dry weather across the country on Saturday with a weak ridge of high pressure expected over Ireland. There'll be sunny spells and just a few showers, mainly in the west and north. However, later in the day cloud will thicken in Munster and rain will reach Kerry and west Cork soon after dark. Maximum temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate west or southwest winds.

A cold start on Saturday night with an early frost possible in the north and east with lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees. However, rain in the southwest will extend nationwide during the night and temperatures will rise.

Persistent rain will clear north on Sunday morning to leave a day of bright spells and widespread showers. It'll be a fresh and windy day with highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in strong southwest winds.