Mostly dry day ahead with good, bright spells

Weather update from Met Éireann

Any mist and fog will clear, giving way to a mostly dry day with bright or even sunny spells, the best of these over the western half of the country. A few isolated showers may affect Atlantic coastal areas. Highest afternoon temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees, with a mostly light southwesterly or variable breeze, but fresher in the northwest.

A chilly night, it will be largely dry with long clear spells. A few isolated showers may affect Atlantic coastal counties. A touch of frost is possible with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, while some mist and fog patches are possible with a light southerly or variable breeze.

A mostly sunny and dry day tomorrow (Tuesday), with just a few isolated showers affecting Atlantic coastal counties. However, cloud will start to build from the west towards nightfall. Highest afternoon temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees, with a mostly light southwesterly breeze, strengthening towards nightfall.

After a mostly dry and bright start to the week, conditions will become unsettled again from Tuesday night, with spells of wet weather forecast for the second half of the week.

Starting off clear over the eastern half of the country on Tuesday night, before cloud spreads across the country from the west, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle following. It will be coldest under clear skies early in the night, with temperatures dropping to 1 to 4 degrees. However, it will become milder through the night. Southerly winds will strengthen through the night, becoming fresh to strong and gusty, with gales possible along coasts.

Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will become patchier as they clear eastwards through Wednesday morning and afternoon, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers following from the west. Milder than the previous two days with highest afternoon temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. While winds will ease through the morning, it will remain breezy with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, stronger on western and northwestern coasts.

Showers will become less frequent through Wednesday night, with dry conditions developing for most. Some clear spells too. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees, with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds easing towards morning.

While the detail is still uncertain, Thursday will bring some wet and windy weather. Persistent rain, heavy at times, will affect parts in the morning and afternoon. As this clears eastwards, showers will feed in from the Atlantic, some of which will be heavy and with a risk of hail or isolated thunderstorms. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees. Moderate to fresh southerly winds will veer southwesterly and increase fresh to strong, with gales possible on some western coasts.

Current indications are that Friday will be a drier day with sunny spells and scattered showers feeding into Atlantic coastal areas. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees, with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

Further outlook: While unsettled conditions are set to continue for the weekend, with further spells of rain and showers on the way, there are indications that more settled conditions will develop from early next week.