Hazy sunshine with temperatures of 17C

Weather Update

Most areas starting dry with hazy sunny spells this morning however rain in the southwest will extend across the country as the day progresses.

While it will become warmer over the weekend there will be a varying amount of cloud about mixed with rain and drizzle at times. The southeast will see the best of the drier brighter conditions, while it will be generally duller and cooler to the west.

The good news from Met Éireann is best of sunny spells will be across Leinster and Ulster today with highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees, cooler in the southwest, in mostly moderate southeasterly breezes. As the rain extends across the country during the afternoon it will become heavy at times in the south and west with the risk of spot flooding and temperature will generally fall with the onset of rain.

Rain will begin clear the west Munster, Connacht and west Ulster early tonight (Thursday) with dry spells developing and lowest temperatures falling to between 2 and 5 degrees with some mist and fog patches developing in mostly light westerly or variable winds. Elsewhere rain will gradually clear by morning however cloud will persist and lowest temperatures will hold between 6 and 10 degrees.

Friday will start mostly cloudy with patchy light rain or drizzle at times over the eastern half of the country. Drier and brighter to the west with sunny spells, however some brighter spells will develop in the east also by evening. Highest temperatures of 13 to 18 degrees, coolest further east where cloud persists in light northerly or variable breezes.

Remaining mostly dry on Friday night with a varying amount of cloud. However patchy rain and drizzle will develop along some western and southern coasts towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees, coldest in the southwest and west. Some mist and fog patches will develop in light and variable breezes.

Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy to start with patchy rain or drizzle at times. Cloud will break up during the afternoon with some sunny spells developing, the best of which will be in the east. Warmer than recent days, with highest temperatures of 15 to 19, holding slightly cooler along coasts as mostly light southerly or variable breezes, increasing moderate along Atlantic coasts.

Remaining mostly cloudy in the west overnight with some patchy drizzle at times. Dry with clear spells further east. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees, coldest in the southeast and mist and fog patches developing as winds fall light and variable.

Sunday is promised mostly dry with hazy sunny spells in eastern parts of the country, cloudier in Atlantic coastal counties with patchy light rain or drizzle at times. Warm in many areas, with highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees, but cooler in west and southwest coastal areas. Winds mostly light to moderate southerly, becoming fresh at times along west and northwest coasts.

Cloud extending to most areas overnight on Sunday with rain and drizzle spreading to the western half of the country. It will be a relatively mild and muggy night with lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in mostly light to moderate southerly winds

Monday: Patchy rain or drizzle in most areas for a time, with the best chance of drier brighter conditions in the southeast. Remaining mild and humid with highest temperatures 16 to 20 degrees, However, cooler air will extend into the northwest during the afternoon as light to moderate southerly winds veer westerly and ease by evening.

Current indications are that there will be a northwest-southeast split on Tuesday and Wednesday: Cooler and cloudier with rain at times in the north and west; warmer, drier and brighter to the southeast.