Weather: Damp drizzly day ahead

Today will be a mostly cloudy and damp day with outbreaks of rain or drizzle, most persistent in west Ulster. The latest weather forecast from Met Éireann says it will be a breezy day with fresh to strong southwest winds. A mild day is promised again with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees, with mist on high ground.

Outbreaks of rain and drizzle continuing tonight, with rain turning heavier and more persistent overnight. The national weather forecaster says it will stay mild for much of the night but becoming cooler towards dawn with temperatures decreasing to between 8 to 11 degrees. Southwest winds will be fresh to strong, but moderating from the west overnight.

Rain will quickly clear eastwards on Wednesday morning. Brighter conditions with showers will quickly follow from the west, some showers heavy, possibly with hail. Breezy with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees.

Overall unsettled and changeable weather is predicted for much of the week.

Wednesday night: Strong northwest winds gradually easing light to moderate overnight. Becoming cold with clear spells and showers, some showers heavy, possibly with hail. Temperatures falling to between 3 to 6 degrees, coldest in Ulster, with a risk of some frost forming near dawn.

Thursday will be mostly dry to begin with a few showers and a good deal of sunshine in the morning. Cloud will however increase quickly from the west during the day ahead of rain developing there in the afternoon. Holding dry in much of Leinster and Munster for daylight hours. Highest afternoon temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees, coldest over Ulster with light to moderate westerly breezes.

Conditions are expected to become milder and breezier Thursday night with rain, heaviest and most persistent in western areas. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees occurring early in the night, but increasing to 9 to 12 degrees overnight with moderate to fresh southwest breezes.

Friday will be a wet day. Rain will be heaviest in western and northern areas, but will ease during the afternoon in parts of Leinster and Munster to patchy drizzle and mist. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees with a moderate southwest breeze.

The weather will continue mild and mostly cloudy overnight on Friday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle with misty conditions. Rain will turn heavier and more persistent in western areas towards dawn. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with fresh southwest breezes.

Looking ahead to Saturday and rain will cross the country eastwards on Saturday morning with brighter weather and showers following from the west. Mild to begin the day with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in the morning, becoming cooler during the afternoon.

A mix of clear spells and scattered showers are forecast for Saturday night with light to moderate westerly breezes. Chilly with lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees.

Sunday will be a bright, fresh day with sunny spells and showers. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees with light to moderate westerly breezes. It is expected to turn cold overnight in clear spells with showers. Grass frost may form towards dawn with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, holding milder in Munster.