Blustery start to the day

A blustery start to the day as southwest to west winds maintain fresh to strong and gusty with the risk of gales along exposed coasts.

The latest weather forecast from Met Éireann is predicting widespread showers this morning, some heavy at times, becoming more scattered during the afternoon with some sunny spells developing. Winds will ease generally moderate to fresh. Highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees.

The national weather forecaster says tonight will remain blustery with clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent along Atlantic coasts. Showers may merge to give longer spells of rain later. Minimum temperatures 11 to 13 degrees, in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, strong in coastal areas.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is promised quite cool and windy, with patchy rain in the morning giving way to a mix of bright or sunny spells and scattered showers through the afternoon. Maximum temperatures 15 to 18 degrees, in fresh and gusty westerly winds.

The weather in the coming days with be fresher with a mix of rain, scattered showers and some bright dry spells also with winds generally light to moderate.

Saturday night: Most areas will be dry, with clear spells, and just isolated showers of rain or drizzle, most frequent along Atlantic coasts and in the northwest. Minimum temperatures 12 to 14 degrees, in mostly light to moderate westerly breezes.

Looking ahead to Sunday, there will be a mix of sunshine and scattered showers, merging to give longer spells of rain at times in the northwest. However there will be good dry spells in the east. Quite cool, with maximum temperatures of only 15 to 19 degrees, in light to moderate westerly breezes.

Sunday night: A spell of persistent rain will extend from the Atlantic late in the evening and overnight, with the best of any drier spells in the north. Minimum temperatures 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate cyclonic variable breezes.

The outlook for Monday: Rain will clear away eastwards in the early morning and it will brighten up gradually from the southwest. Sunny spells will develop through the afternoon with some scattered showers also. Maximum temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees, in light to moderate variable breezes.

Any remaining showers will clear early Monday night leaving a mostly dry night with clear spells at times. Cloud will increase in Munster and south Leinster later in the night with rain extending from the south to southern coastal counties by morning. Minimum tempertures of 9 to 12 degrees in light southerly or variable breezes.

Tuesday should bring persistent and locally heavy rain will extend to much of the south through the morning and afternoon with drier, brighter conditions further north, and just occasional showers. Further heavy rain will extend from the Atlantic to affect the southwest later in the evening. Maximum temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees, in light to moderate northeast to northerly breezes.

Further Outlook: Changeable and unsettled weather continuing, with rain and intermittent dry spells and average seasonal temperatures.