Field conditions are not likely to change significantly over the next seven days as there’s more rain and wintry showers promised for the weekend and week ahead, according to Met Eireann.
Today (Friday) rain will clear eastwards in the morning in the aftermath of Storm Gertrude but there will be some thundery bursts of rain.
There will be a mix of sunshine and scattered blustery showers for the rest of today and it will turn cooler through the day.
Showers will continue to be widespread with the north and west promised to receive some hail showers.
Over the past seven days rainfall has averaged 1.5 to 2.5 times the norm and some parts even more and current indications suggest that this will not change over the next number of days.
There’ll be highest afternoon temperatures between 7 and 11 degrees Celsius.
Tonight it will be cold, with a mixed bag of clear spells and scattered heavy showers, some of these showers are likely to turn to sleet or snow across the north of the country.
Temperatures overnight are to drop to freezing, bringing frost and ice.
Parts of the country can expect the odd flurry of sleet and snow, according to Met Eireann.
While there will be sleet and snow in parts, long dry spells are also forecast with bright winter sunshine at times – mostly in the midlands and east.
On Saturday, highest temperatures will range just 3 to 7 degrees Celsius, however it’s promised to feel even colder with an added wind chill effect.
Saturday night will be cold with clear spells and more scattered showers, some wintry across the northern half of the country and frost and ice will make an appearance.
Even though snow is promised in parts mean air temperatures over the last week were between 3 and 5 degrees above normal, Met Eireann has said.
While mean soil temperatures are above normal, given the poor trafficability of land spraying conditions for the weekend and week ahead are to remain poor.
Looking to Sunday, it will be a mild day but with cloud and rain in parts. Temperatures are to pick up through the day to between 11 and 13 degrees.
Outlook for next week – Met Eireann
Current indications suggest that next week will get off to a windy start with bright spells and some prolonged heavy showers across the northwest of the country.
Temperatures will fall slightly to 7 to 10 degrees Monday afternoon.
Looking to Tuesday, it will feel raw again with cold west to northwest winds and drying condition will remain moderate to poor.
The wind chill effect will set in again on Tuesday, according to Met Eireann, with highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.
More unsettled weather looks set for the latter part of next week with spells of wet and windy weather with ground conditions likely to remain saturated and waterlogged.