Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow advisory for potato blight over the coming days across the country.

The national forecaster said that conditions conductive to the spread of blight will develop nationwide on Thursday and Friday (June 12-13).

Met Éireann advised growers that there will be opportunities for spraying today (Wednesday, June 11).

Potato blight, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, poses a significant threat to potato crops in Ireland and globally.

Despite recent advances in fungicides, improved varieties and better disease forecasting, Teagasc said that there is still no means of eradicating an outbreak in a crop. Therefore, disease prevention is key.

Weather conditions which favour the spread of the disease occur when temperatures rise above 10°C and relative humidity rises above 95%.

The typical mild, damp Irish summer can provide the ideal conditions for the spread of the disease.

Teagasc has estimated that some €5 million is spent annually on fungicides in Ireland to mitigate against the disease.

Met Éireann has said that during the coming week there will be unsettled weather across the country, with rain and showers at times.

Some of the showers will be heavy and with a likelihood of thunderstorms developing, particularly in the next few days.

Rainfall amounts are expected to be close to or above average in most areas, and one and a half to twice the average in parts of the east, midlands and north.

Mean temperatures are expected to be close to average in the south and west, and a degree above normal values in the east and north of the country. Soil temperatures are expected to rise a little over the coming seven days.

Soil moisture deficits are generally between 0mm and +45mm with the driest soils in the south.

However, Met Éireann noted that most soils in the north midlands are very close to saturation. Soil moisture deficits will continue to decrease in the coming week.