After a wet start to the week, the weather is set to become drier and colder later on in the week, according to Met Eireann.

Rain in Connacht and Munster is to become widespread, persistent and at times heavy this morning.

The rain will be accompanied by strong and gusty south to southeast winds, reaching gale force at the coasts.

Met Eireann has a status yellow wind warning in place for the country today, with mean speeds of 45 to 65 km/hr and gusts of 90 to 100 km/hr expected.

Highest temperatures this afternoon are expected to reach between 8 and 12 degrees, the higher temperatures over Munster.

The rain is forecast to break up in to showers from the west during the afternoon and will clear northeastwards during the evening, with the clearance of the rain the winds will veer southwest to west, remaining strong and gusty for a time.

Showers will continue overnight but will become well scattered from all but coastal areas of the west and south, according to Met Eireann.

Clear spells are forecast elsewhere and temperatures will fall below freezing once again in the east and north, staying just above freezing in the west and south. Lowest temperatures will range between minus 1 and plus 2 degrees. Winds will gradually ease and become southerly overnight.

Tuesday

Tomorrow, Tuesday, winds will be mostly light southerly to start and then veer to the northwest during the course of the day, Met Eireann has said.

Mainly dry with sunny spells is in store with just a few isolated showers. Temperatures are to range between 6 and 8 degrees in the afternoon.

A sharp to severe frost will develop on Tuesday night as skies clear and winds fall light variable or calm. Fog patches are likely too.

Wednesday

Current indications suggest that Wednesday will be a largely dry day with sunny spells. Highest temperatures will vary between 6 to 8 degrees with light southerly breezes, which will freshen later.

On Wednesday night, frost looks set to be confined to the east of the country.

Thursday

Thursday will be a cold, breezy and mostly cloudy day, with some rain possible in the west of Munster but apart from just a few isolated showers, elsewhere will be mainly dry, according to Met Eireann.

The best of any sunny spells are expected over the northern half of the country, with highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. It will coldest in the east, with moderate to fresh south to southeast winds.

Frost is expected to develop on Thursday night and it’ll be largely dry.

Friday and the weekend

The latest weather charts from Met Eireann suggest that Friday and the weekend will be cold but mainly dry with an easterly airflow becoming established over Ireland.

Daytime temperatures are to range from 3 to 6 degrees, coldest in the east and a sharp or severe frost will develop at night.

It is expected to be mainly dry with sunny spells. However, showers will develop at times along east and south coasts, some possibly wintry.

MET EIREANN WEATHER