Light rain this morning but sunny spells later

Weather Update from Met Éireann

Rain will clear away over the coming days with showers following at times. Turning colder with frost and ice developing later in the week. That's according to the latest bulletin from Met Éireann.

A dull, cloudy start this morning with some mist patches along with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle clearing eastwards through the early morning and becoming mainly dry with just patches of drizzle. A few sunny spells will develop during the afternoon. Towards evening, a band of more persistent rain will push into the northwest. Mild with highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds, stronger in western and northwestern coastal areas.

Rain in the northwest will slowly track southeastwards during the night but staying dry for much of east Munster and south Leinster. A mild night with temperatures generally not falling below 5 to 9 degrees, coolest in the north, as drier conditions move in from the northwest later in the night. Moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly winds will gradually ease mostly moderate by morning.

Tomorrow will be largely cloudy with light outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly over Munster and north Leinster. Drier further north with some sunny spells developing. Highest afternoon temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees over Ulster and Connacht, ranging from 9 to 13 degrees elsewhere. Southwest winds will be mostly moderate but fresh to strong in the south and northwest.

Outbreaks of rain will slowly clear southwards overnight on Tuesday as milder conditions give way under clearing skies. Scattered showers will also move in over parts of the north and west. Lowest temperatures overnight of 2 to 7 degrees generally but temperatures will continue to fall during the early morning. Light to moderate southwest to west winds will increase fresh to strong and gusty along northern and western coasts.

Cloudy to start over the southern half of the country on Wednesday with some patches of light rain lingering. Brighter further north with good sunny spells developing along with scattered showers, mainly over Connacht and Ulster with some falls of sleet and with some snow possible on high ground in Ulster. Good sunny spells will extend further south through the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees generally in moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds, stronger in the west and north.

Wednesday night is expected colder than previous nights, with long clear spells and scattered showers in the north and west, and staying dry elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees generally with frost developing in places. West to southwest winds will be occasionally fresh, but continuing stronger near western and northwestern coasts.

Thursday will bring a largely dry and bright start to the morning with scattered showers in parts of the north and west. During the day, there will be plenty of sunshine but showers will become more widespread, turning heavy at times in parts of the northwest with further falls of sleet likely along with snow on high ground in Ulster. There is also the possibility of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in mostly moderate west to northwest winds. Turning very cold overnight with clear skies as showers become isolated and mostly confined to northern coasts. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees with widespread frost and icy developing in light northwesterly or variable breezes.

A cold, bright start to the day with icy stretches is forecast for Friday. There will be good sunshine for much of the day. Dry for most but there will be further scattered showers over Ulster and north Connacht with just the odd shower possible further south. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate westerly breezes. It will be cold begin to begin the night but milder conditions will push in from the west during the night and the following morning.

Further outlooks: Current indications suggest that Saturday will be largely dry to start with but it will then turn more unsettled through the rest of the weekend and into early next week with spells of rain, breezy at times too.