After weeks of seemingly endless wet days, the weather is set to take a turn for the better over the weekend and into next week.

According to Met Eireann’s latest forecasts the weather will be mostly dry and settled for Monday and the early part of next week. Following a couple of dry days this week already, the countryside is full activity with farmers spreading slurry and fertiliser.

As the weather picks up farmers should keep a keen eye on AgriLand’s Grass growth map. Last week grass growth across the country averaged averaged 6 in Ulster, 4 Connacht, 6 leinster and 7 in Munster in terms of Kg /DM/HA/day. These values are likely to improve over the weekend and into next week.

Looking at the short-term forecast the outlook is a little more mixed. Met Eireann says there will be a few bright or short sunny spells, but generally cloudy and misty today. Rain and drizzle will become more widespread, persistent and locally heavy and there will be some hill and coastal fog also. It will be mild though, with top temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees.

The wet weather is set to clear overnight. Met Eireann say it will be dry then apart, from isolated rain or hail showers near north and west coasts. Lowest temperatures 2 to 6 degrees.

Forecasters say tomorrow Friday will be a bright, mainly dry day, with good sunny spells developing. However it says it will be breezy and showery for a time in the morning over Ulster. Top afternoon temperatures will range 6 to 8 C.

Friday night will be dry in most areas with a slight ground frost over eastern areas, but outbreaks of rain will develop over the north and west.

Met Eireann at this stage forecast Saturday will be cloudy, mild and breezy with scattered outbreaks of rain. The rain will occur mainly over western parts of the country, while eastern counties will have good dry spells. Southerly winds will be fresh and gusty.

It says Sunday will be a mostly dry day with light winds and it will brighten up with sunny breaks during the afternoon. A slight ground frost will form on Sunday night.

Image: Fertiliser spreading on grassland. Photo O’Gorman Photography.