A touch of Spring in Virginia. Photo: Breedge Kelly

Patchy rain and drizzle this morning but dry afternoon ahead

Weather update from Met Éireann

Rather unsettled for a time, particularly early to midweek, but turning drier and calmer later in the weekend. That's the latest weather outlook from Met Éireann.

Mostly cloudy this morning with patches of rain or drizzle along with hill mist. Becoming mostly dry for the afternoon and some sunny spells will develop. However, patchy rain or drizzle will continue to affect some southern coasts and hills. Highest temperatures generally ranging 12 to 15 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong on Atlantic coasts.

A dry start tonight, but rain will develop in Atlantic coastal counties before midnight and will then extend gradually eastwards across the country overnight. Clear spells and scattered showers will follow into the west before dawn on Wednesday. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in moderate southwest winds.

Rain will clear quickly into the Irish Sea on Wednesday morning to leave it bright and fresh for a time with sunny spells and scattered showers. However, a further spell of rain will reach western counties by late afternoon, quickly extending nationwide during the evening. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds.

There will be outbreaks of rain across much of the country on Wednesday night, heavy in places. A clearance is expected to extend from the west later in the night with most of the country dry by Thursday morning. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees, coldest later in the night across the northern half of the country.

Generally dry on Thursday morning but with a fair amount of cloud. Rain will develop in the west and northwest during the afternoon, spreading to most of the country by evening. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees, mildest in the south. Winds will be generally light southwest initially, but will strengthen later in the day with gales developing in Atlantic sea areas. Mild and windy overnight with scattered outbreaks of rain or drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in strong and gusty west to southwest winds along with gales on Atlantic coasts.

Winds will abate on Friday morning. It will be a rather cloudy day with patchy rain in the south extending across much of the country during the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in fresh and gusty southwest winds. There will be scattered outbreaks of rain overnight with lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in a moderate to fresh west or southwest breeze.

There is some uncertainty in the forecast for the weekend but current indications suggest that Saturday will be rather cloudy with patchy rain or drizzle. High pressure is then expected to build over Ireland on Sunday bringing lots of dry weather with some sunshine too.