Weather: Rainy day ahead

Partly cloudy this morning with scattered showers. Some showers will be heavy in the west with the risk of hail, and may merge into longer spells of rain at times, according to the latest weather bulletin from Met Éireann. Highest temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds.

Tonight will be wet and windy. A band of rain will extend across the region from the south bringing the risk of surface flooding. Southeasterly winds will increase strong and gusty with near gales at times on the coast, bringing a risk of coastal flooding. The rain will clear to scattered heavy and blustery showers by morning. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees will occur early in the night.

Wednesday will start wet and very windy. Strong and gusty southeasterly winds will veer south to southwesterly during the afternoon and evening gradually ease. It will remain mostly cloudy with scattered heavy showers merging to longer spells of rain at times. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

The outlook for the next few days if for unsettled conditions with blustery showers and longer spells of rain at times while temperatures will remain on the milder side of seasonal in a mostly southerly airflow.

On Wednesday night clear spells will develop however scattered showers will continue to affect mainly western and northwestern areas. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees will occur towards dawn. Some mist and fog patches will develop in light to moderate south to southwest breezes.

Thursday will bring a mix of sunny spells with isolated showers in the morning, However cloud will increase from the southwest with outbreaks of rain and drizzle will extend from the Atlantic by afternoon. Afternoon highs of 7 to 11 degrees, but becoming milder through the evening in moderate to fresh, southerly winds.

Rain will clear in the northeast early on Thursday night, however it will remain mostly cloudy with a further spell of heavy rain moves in from the west later in the night. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

Friday will see a relatively mild and wet start to the day as rain crosses the country eastwards, clearing to showers and sunny spells in the afternoon. Highest afternoon temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds.

Friday night: Blustery showers heaviest and most frequent along Atlantic coasts in a fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, remaining drier in the east with long clear spells. Lowest temperature of 5 to 7 degrees.

Sunny spells and scattered showers are forecast for Saturday, most frequent and heaviest in the west. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate south to southwest winds.

Further Outlook: Remaining unsettled but gradually turning a little cooler as winds turn more northerly.