A mild, changeable weekend is in store over the coming days, with heavy rain expected in some areas, according to Met Eireann.
There will be sunny spells this morning (Friday, September 7) over Ulster and north Leinster, but it will be generally cloudy, with patches of mist and drizzle otherwise.
A spell of persistent rain will move into Atlantic coastal areas later today Met Eireann says. Highest temperatures will reach 14° to 18° in mostly light west to south-west breezes.
Some hill and coastal fog is expected also, with lowest temperatures expected to stay at 10° to 12°.
Variable drying conditions are expected over the coming days with some opportunities given for today and Sunday.
There will also be some spraying opportunities today, but rain and drizzle in the west later will spread countrywide overnight.
These values will be reduced a little this week. However, deficits are much lower over Connacht and west Ulster, with a surplus in some parts of Connacht expected over the coming seven days.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow will see a cloudy, misty start to the day, with outbreaks of rain – some of which will be heavy in southern parts of Munster and Leinster.
A clearance will develop over Ulster and much of Connacht in the morning.
It will extend only slowly southwards, so that the rain is likely to persist over south Munster and parts of Leinster until evening. Highest temperatures will peak at 15° to 17°, Met Eireann says, with fresh south-west winds in southern coastal counties, but winds light elsewhere.
However, it should dry out in many places later. Southerly winds will veer westerly and freshen, with lowest temperatures of 9° to 11° expected.
A Status Yellow environmental warning for conditions conducive to potato blight was issued on Wednesday and remains in place.
Outlook
Sunday will see some showery rain in Atlantic coastal counties, but mainly dry and bright elsewhere, with occasional sunny spells.
Top temperatures of 15° to 18° are given, in moderate to fresh south-west to westerly winds. It should stay dry overnight with slack breezes in most areas, though it will be misty with patches of fog in places. Lowest temperatures are forecast to drop to 6° to 9°.
Monday will see some dry, bright weather to start the day, with sunny spells, but cloudy, damp conditions are due in off the Atlantic during the second half of the day.
It will become breezy also, and rain will be heavy in places. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 16° to 19°, with winds increasing fresh and gusty south to southwesterly.