A mixture of showers, dry spells and frost in store this week - Met Eireann

The week will get off to a showery start, with dry spells and frost expected as the week goes on, according to Met Eireann.

Today, Monday, is set to be showery with some sunny spells, with the showers expected to be heaviest and most frequent in western and northern counties.

Fresh and gusty southwest to west winds are expected to keep temperatures between 12 to 15 degrees.

Early tonight there will be further heavy showers and these will merge into longer spells of rain, it says, especially over the northern half of the country before clearing eastwards later in the night.

Winds will remain are set to remain fresh and gusty but moderate over the southern half of the country by morning. Lowest temperatures of between four to seven degrees forecast, with some frost expected.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, showers are set to become isolated while the remainder of the day is expected to be mostly dry with some sunny spells.

However, showers will continue to affect the north and northeast until evening, the forecast says.

It will be cool and breezy with moderate to fresh winds forecast, which will ease somewhat towards evening with temperatures of between 11 to 13 degrees expected.

Tuesday night is set to be mostly dry with good clear spells. Winds are expected to ease with some mist or fog patches developing in parts of the country.

Meanwhile, temperatures are forecast to fall to around three to six degrees leading to frost in some areas.

Outlook

Wednesday and Thursday will be mostly dry weather and some sunny spells due to an area of high pressure, according to Met Eireann.

Both days are forecast to be cool with a highest temperature of 13 degrees expected. Similarly the nights are forecast to be cold with temperatures again falling to around three to six degrees, leading again to some frost.

Friday is set to continue to be mostly dry but winds are set to become light as the ridge of high pressure declines and some showers may affect the south and east.

Early indications are that the weekend is likely to become unsettled again as frontal rain pushes northeastwards over the country in a strengthening southeasterly wind.

The period of settled weather in the second half of this week may provide some opportunities for spraying, while drying conditions may improve momentarily as well, according to Met Eireann.

However, field conditions remain difficult but well drained soils are maintaining trafficability.