Flowers at Lavey Lake. Photo: Magda Galazka

More frequent dry and sunny spells ahead this week

Weather update from Met Éireann

A bright day today with a mix of sunshine and showers. Some showers will turn heavy over the northern half of the country. The showers will ease this evening. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in a light to moderate west to northwest breeze.

Tonight will be largely dry with clear spells and just isolated showers. Cloud will thicken in the west and southwest overnight with patchy rain and drizzle developing towards dawn. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in a light southwesterly breeze.

Occasional rain and drizzle will continue in places this week, though dry and sunny spells will be more frequent than recently. Becoming warmer as the week progresses, with temperatures reaching the low twenties at times.

Bank Holiday Monday will start largely dry with sunny spells and isolated showers. However, it will be cloudier in the south and west with outbreaks of rain. Cloud will build across the country in the afternoon with patchy rain and drizzle spreading to most areas by evening. Some dry and sunny spells will linger in Ulster and north Leinster. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, fresh at times in the southwest.

A cloudy night on Monday with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle, becoming lighter and patchier as the night goes on. A milder night with lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees in light winds.

Rain and drizzle will mostly clear to the east on Tuesday morning. Dry and sunny spells will gradually develop in the afternoon, though occasional patches of light rain and drizzle will linger. Highest temperatures of 17 degrees in the north to 21 degrees in the south in light northerly winds.

Dry with clear spells for a time overnight on Tuesday but it will turn cloudier. A few scattered patches of light rain will develop in the south and west but remaining largely dry elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in a light variable breeze.

Wednesday is expected warm, humid and cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle in the west and south to start. Many areas will stay dry but scattered patches of rain and drizzle will spread further eastwards in the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 20 to 24 degrees in a light southerly breeze.

Thursday is set to be another warm and humid day. Dry with sunny spells for many areas early on. Cloud will thicken in the southwest and west through the day with outbreaks of rain developing and slowly spreading eastwards across the country later. Highest temperatures of 20 to 24 or 25 degrees in moderate to fresh southeast winds.

Further outlook: Becoming more unsettled for Friday and the weekend with spells of rain spreading from the Atlantic. Feeling cooler and fresher also, with blustery conditions at times.