Farmers are being advised that between 30mm to 70mm of rain is expected over the coming week, around 200% to 300% of the climatological norm.

In its latest farming commentary, Met Éireann said highest accumulations are expected in the west.

The last seven days brought mixed rainfall total across the country.

While some areas were wetter than normal, those areas primarily being the north-east and south-west (170%-285%), other areas were drier than usual (65%-100%).

Shannon was the wettest with 44mm of rainfall tallied during the past seven days; Cork Airport in turn was the driest with just 12mm of rainfall recorded.

Much cooler

It was much warmer than average over the last seven days.

Mean soil temperatures have also been well above normal, ranging between 14.6° and 18.4° which is between 3° to 6° above normal.

The coming week will be much cooler than last week with temperatures forecast to be 1° or 3° below normal, ranging between 10° and 13°.

Mean soil temperatures will remain well above normal.

Sunshine amounts were around average or slightly below over the last week. It was brightest in the east with 46 hours of sunshine recorded at Dublin Airport (110%).

Sunshine amounts were lower in the west and north with 28.4 hours of sunshine recorded at Valentia, Co. Kerry.

Conditions are forecast to become cloudier over the next week, so it is expected that sunshine amounts will generally closer to average or below.

Drying conditions will be fairly poor at times throughout the week with spells of rain and showers.

There will be limited spraying opportunities during the coming week due to more frequent rainfall and blustery winds.

Field conditions

Soil moisture deficits for all soil types will range from 10mm in parts of the south to 50mm in the east, Met Éireann said.

More unsettled conditions over the coming seven days will result in a general decrease in soil moisture deficits.

Soils will be close to saturation generally with medium soils trafficable for south-east areas.