Dry and sunny to begin but rain on the way

Weather Update

Dry and sunny in many areas to begin this morning however showers of rain or hail in the north and northwest will extend southwards through the morning and afternoon, some heavy. Showers will be scattered with plenty of dry and sunny intervals too, best of which in the south and southwest. Another cool day with highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in moderate northerly winds, breeziest in Ulster with fresh winds there.

Tonight will be largely dry and clear, with just light isolated showers near northern or northwestern coasts. Frost will form as temperatures fall back to between -3 and +2 degrees, coldest in the midlands. Light northwest or variable winds.

Tomorrow (Friday) will be cool with a lot of dry and bright weather during the day in light northwest or variable breezes. There will be scattered showers in Ulster and northern parts of Connacht, with just the odd shower elsewhere. Cloud will build through the afternoon ahead of a spell of rain and arriving into the southwest during the evening where fresh southwesterly winds will develop. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.

Turning milder over the coming days but continuing unsettled with low pressure moving close to Ireland bringing spells of wet and windy weather with heavy showers expected later in the weekend.

Friday night will be wet and windy. Rain will spread from the southwest overnight, reaching the northeast at around dawn. Rain will be heavy at times, particularly along the southern coast. Fresh to strong and gusty southeasterly winds will reach gale force on coasts in the southwest and west. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees.

Wet and blustery to begin the day on Saturday with rain clearing to sunshine and showers from the southeast during the morning. The rain will clear the north coast in the afternoon. Fresh to strong and gusty southeast winds will veer southwesterly and moderate somewhat as the rain clears. A much milder day than of recent with highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees, mildest in Leinster.

Showers will become more frequent and widespread on Saturday night as southerly winds freshen again, increasing strong on coastal parts of the south and west. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Sunday will be windy with widespread heavy showers and limited bright intervals. Hail showers are possible, with the risk of thunderstorms. Showers will likely be heaviest in the western half of the country. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees. Fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds will moderate later in the afternoon and evening but remain breezy in parts overnight. Showers will continue on Sunday night mixed will clear spells

Looking ahead to early next week and Monday will see further widespread heavy showers of rain or hail, with thundery downpours possible. Bright or sunny spells will be limited. Highs of 12 to 15 degrees. Moderate to fresh breezes will be variable in direction, strong at times near coasts.

FURTHER OUTLOOK: Continuing unsettled with low pressure continuing to dominate likely bringing showers to most areas with temperatures average or slightly below.