Weather: Wet and windy today

Wet and windy today as rain will persist through much of the day, heavy at times. The latest weather forecast from Met Éireann says strong and gusty southerly winds will veer westerly as a clearance very gradually sets in. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees.

Tonight will be a cool and largely dry night as rain clears eastern areas followed by clear skies with just a few isolated light showers to the west. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees. Light to moderate west to southwest winds will back southerly, freshening along western coasts towards dawn.

Thursday will begin largely dry and bright. Patchy rain and drizzle will move in from the west at times with thickening cloud during the morning. Persistent rain, heavy at times, will move in from the Atlantic later in the afternoon, extending eastwards. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in fresh and gusty southerly winds, strong on coasts.

Conditions will remain unsettled for the rest of the week with rain and showers. Becoming quite windy on Sunday. Temperatures will be generally above average.

Thursday night: Persistent rain in the western half of the country will continue to move eastwards with some heavy falls at times. The rain will clear to widespread showers in the west later in the night as clear spells develop. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in mainly moderate southwesterly winds.

On Friday, rain will clear the east early in the morning and showers with sunny spells will develop throughout the country. Showers will be heavy and blustery, most frequent in the west and northwest with risks of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees generally in moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds, backing south and easing during the evening as showers become more isolated.

Friday night will become a wet night as outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west and southwest extend countrywide. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong on coasts.

Looking ahead to the weekend and, on Saturday, another band of rain will move in from the Atlantic early in the morning, moving eastwards, becoming patchier as it does so. Showers and sunny spells will follow in behind it, most frequent in the western half of the country. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees, dropping down to 5 to 8 degrees overnight. Moderate to fresh southwesterly winds will be strong on coasts at times.

Sunday is promised a windy day with fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest winds. Widespread showers will bring risks of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees.

Current indications suggest that Monday will be a mild and largely dry day before becoming unsettled again for Tuesday.