Mainly a dry bright day but heavy rain to return later

Weather Update

A cold and frosty start, and dry and bright for much of the province today. Cloud and rain will edge into western parts through the afternoon. Chilly with afternoon highs of just 3 to 5 in light easterly breezes.

Rain spreading eastwards across the province tonight, turning heavy at times. Cold early in the night with lows of 1 to 3 degrees but temperatures rising to 5 to 8 degrees by morning. Light southeast or variable breezes.

Generally cloudy tomorrow, Wednesday with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in moderate southwesterly breezes.

On Wednesday night, the rain will push eastwards overnight with scattered showers in the west by morning. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees in mostly light southerly breezes, later veering northwesterly and moderating.

Rain will clear the east through the morning on Thursday with good sunny spells developing during the afternoon and isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees in moderate northwesterly breezes.

Frost will return on Thursday night under clear skies and light variable winds, lowest temperatures of between - 1 and +2 degrees with some mist and fog patches forming also. Cloud will increase from the wet towards dawn.

Friday is promised to be increasingly cloudy with patchy light rain or drizzle mainly affecting Atlantic coastal counties. Afternoon high temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, freshening on Atlantic coasts later.

Current indications for the weekend are for a spell of wet and windy weather to cross the country on Friday night with blustery showers on Saturday and Sunday.