Dry bright afternoon ahead but wind and rain tomorrow

Weather conditions will be mostly cloudy at first with lingering drizzle and mist but drying up through the afternoon with some brighter spells, according to the latest bulletin from Met Éireann.

The national weather forecaster says cloud will thicken from the west later in the day as southerly winds freshen, with rain arriving by evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees.

Outbreaks of rain will push in from the west overnight. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with moderate southerly winds, fresh along coasts.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a wet and windy day with the rain turning heavy at times bringing a risk of localised spot flooding. Strong and gusty southerly winds will veer westerly as conditions improve from the west later in the day. Highest temperatures of 12 and 14 degrees.

A mobile Atlantic regime will continue to dominate bringing unsettled conditions right out to the weekend.

The rain is expected to clear eastwards on Wednesday night and under clear skies temperatures will drop significantly in a much cooler airmass than recent days, down to between 3 and 5 degrees.

Thursday is promised a mostly dry day with sunny spells at first. Patchy rain and drizzle will affect the northwest through the morning with outbreaks of rain arriving in western and southern counties later in the afternoon in freshening southerly breezes. Highs of 10 to 13 degrees.

Outbreaks of rain should spread countrywide overnight on Thursday with a clearance to showers moving into the west before dawn. Fresh southerly winds veering southwesterly and moderating. Lows of 4 to 6 degrees.

Friday: Blustery scattered showers, heavy and most frequent in the west and northwest with a risk of hail and possible isolated thunderstorms. Moderate to fresh southwest winds with highs of 9 to 11 degrees.

Current indications for the weekend suggest the weather will continue unsettled with rain expected on Saturday and showers for Sunday.