Cool and unsettled conditions forecast this weekend

This weekend is set to be quite cool with unsettled conditions likely to remain in place throughout the weekend and into early next week, according to Met Eireann.

Today, Friday, is expected to be an increasingly windy day with a mixture of sunshine and showers.

These showers are forecast to be most frequent over Munster and south Leinster this morning, but there is a danger of them becoming widespread this afternoon – and a few of them may be heavy with a risk of thunder.

Winds are forecast to become strong and gusty along western and southern coasts as the day progresses. It will be cool, with temperatures ranging from 14º to 17º.

Blustery showers are set to continue overnight, these showers are expected to be heaviest and most prevalent in the west and north of the country – with the best of any clearer, drier interludes in the east and southeast.

Temperatures will drop to between 9º and 11º in fresh and gusty west to northwest winds.

Drying conditions are set to be poor for this time of year, but there will be some periods of reasonably good drying. Opportunities for spraying will be limited due to unsettled conditions, Met Eireann explained.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Saturday, is forecast to be a cool and blustery day. Some bright or sunny spells and further showers, some of which may turn heavy, are also likely.

These showers are expected to become isolated towards evening, with daytime temperatures reaching around 15º or slightly higher.

It is set to become dry countrywide for a time tomorrow night, with just isolated showers and clear spells at first, according to Met Eireann.

Cloud cover is forecast to increase from the Atlantic overnight and there is also a danger of some patchy rain and drizzle developing in Atlantic coastal counties, as temperatures drop to around 10º.

Sunday

Cloudy conditions with outbreaks of rain are likely to prevail on Sunday morning, with these showers clearing into the Irish Sea during the afternoon.

Bright spells and blustery showers are set to follow into the west, with the danger of showers turning heavy and prolonged in parts of Ulster, Connacht and west Munster by evening time.

Daytime temperatures will remain similar to the previous day, in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds.

Strong and gusty west or southwest winds are forecast overnight, with the potential for gales and large waves along the coastal fringes of the west and south. Outbreaks of rain are expected to spread countrywide, with the heaviest rain set to fall in Atlantic coastal counties.

Outlook

Early indications suggest that wet and windy weather is set to descend on Monday, as people start the working week.

There will be a danger of widespread squally showers or longer spells of rain, with the possibility of these showers turning heavy at times with a risk of thunder.

Windy conditions will continue throughout the day, as temperatures reach around 15º, Met Eireann concluded.