Another wet and windy weekend in store

Weather Update from Met Éireann

Some very unsettled conditions expected over the weekend and through next week with some very wet and windy weather at times. Temperatures will fluctuate also with some very mild spells at times and occasional fleeting cold intrusions.

That's the latest outlook from Met Éireann.

Blustery today with sunny spells and widespread showers. Some of the showers will turn heavy at times, but will become isolated towards evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees, coolest in Ulster, as fresh and gusty southwest winds slowly ease mostly moderate by evening.

Cloud will increase early tonight, with showery outbreaks of rain extending from the west, becoming persistent and widespread by morning. Lowest overnight temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in mostly light to moderate southerly or variable winds.

Sunday will start wet in many parts, with the risk of spot flooding in the south. Brighter spells and showers will follow into the west during the afternoon. However, outbreaks of rain will linger in parts of the north and east, and some sleet may fall over higher parts of Ulster in the evening. Highs of 5 to 9 degrees, cooler at times in the afternoon, as light to moderate variable winds become northwesterly and increase moderate and gusty.

Any residual rain will gradually clear the northeast early on Sunday night leaving clear spells and scattered showers, the showers will mainly be along Atlantic coasts, with some turning wintry especially over higher ground. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, with some frost and icy patches possible but most should clear as light westerly winds veer north to northwest and increase moderate to fresh by morning.

Monday should bring sunny spells and a good deal of dry weather, with any showers feeding in from the north in a fresh northwest airflow, dying off during the afternoon. Chilly with highest temperatures of just 5 to 9 degrees, coolest in Ulster, with an added wind chill factor in moderate to fresh northwest winds, but they will ease light to moderate as they back west to southwesterly by evening.

Cold early on Monday night, especially in the east with a touch of frost possible, but cloud and outbreaks of rain will spread from the west during the evening and early night-time hours becoming widespread and heavy at times, some may fall as sleet over higher ground early but will quickly transition back to rain. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 6 degrees, coolest early in the east but as southwest winds increase moderate to fresh they will usher in milder air.

Tuesday is expected mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain on Tuesday, turning heavy at times also, bringing the risk of localised flooding, especially in the south. Highest temperatures of 6 to 11 degrees north to south.

Becoming very mild, wet and windy on Tuesday night with heavy rain at times as winds back southwesterly increasing fresh to strong and gusty. Lowest temperatures early in the night of 5 to 8 degrees, except for Munster which will see lows of 9 to 12 degrees, and this milder air will extend north to all parts by morning.

Very mild and windy on Wednesday morning with the rain clearing to squally showers, becoming very windy for a time with the risk of severe gusts, some of the showers will be of hail, and turning wintry in the northwest towards evening especially over higher ground. Highs of 11 to 15 degrees, but becoming cooler from the northwest in the afternoon with afternoon highs of just 5 to 10 in Connacht and Ulster. Westerly winds will increase strong to near gale and very gusty by early afternoon, with gales or strong gales on all coasts.

FURTHER OUTLOOK: Remaining cooler but remaining very unsettled towards the end of the week with further spells of wet and windy weather along with the chance of some wintry precipitation, mostly in the northwest.