There’s more rain on the way for the weekend but milder weather is promised for next week, according to Met Eireann.
After the rain clears this morning (Friday) sunny spells will develop in all areas, together with scattered showers.
Some showers will be heavy in the northwest, but other areas will see a lot of dry weather, it said.
It will be quite blustery with fresh to strong southwest winds, which will be up to gale force along parts of the west and north coast.
Today (Friday) there will be highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees, according to Met Eireann.
Tonight will continue generally dry with mostly clear skies, with lowest temperatures between 5 and 9 degrees.
Soil temperatures
Meanwhile, Met Eireann has said that mean soil temperatures remain a little lower than normal at present in many places.
However, as air temperatures rise in the days ahead, soil temperatures will follow suit and are likely to be positive overall by several degrees early next week.
Looking to the weekend, tomorrow (Saturday) is promised to start dry and bright, but rain will spread from the southwest during the afternoon.
Again, there will be highest temperatures of 10 or 11 degrees in moderate to fresh south or southeast winds.
Outbreaks of rain will mainly affect south and west coasts as southerly winds are promised to be moderate to fresh
Sunday will be mainly cloudy day with just a few bright spells, with current indications suggesting that outbreaks of rain will continue on west and south coasts, but staying mainly dry elsewhere.
It will be mild and breezy, with highest temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees in a freshening southerly wind.
On a positive note, it said that with an above normal mean air temperature regime in place, growth will be strong generally in the week ahead.
Most parts of Ireland saw a significant reduction in total rainfall amounts during the past seven days, in contrast to the first two weeks of January, according to Met Eireann.
Meanwhile, Sunday night will be windy and quite wet with heavy rain for a time, especially on Atlantic coasts, however, Met Eireann has said that temperatures probably won’t fall below 10 degrees.
Outlook for next week – Met Eireann
There is likely to be little improvement in drying conditions in the week ahead and it has said that spraying conditions will remain poor overall.
This is given the ongoing poor trafficability of lands and the onset of fairly windy and occasionally wet weather.
Current indications suggest that the rain will clear on Monday morning and colder conditions will set in with sunshine and scattered showers.
A slight frost may develop on Monday night, but it is likely to become milder again on Tuesday with rain and wind.
Met Eireann has said that it looks that the weather will continue unsettled after Tuesday with episodes of wet and windy weather and not much frost.