Rain will make a return this weekend in many areas of the country, as the long period of dry weather gives way to more unsettled conditions, according to Met Éireann.

Temperatures are set to remain near or slightly above normal over the coming few days.

It will start off generally cloudy this morning with the odd patch of light rain or drizzle possible in the north and west for a time.

It will become drier and brighter though, as sunny spells increase through the early afternoon. The sunshine will turn hazy this evening as cloud begins to build from the north-west.

Highest temperatures will be 17° to 24°, warmest in the south and east, in a light to moderate west to north-west breeze.

Cloud will quickly spread from the north-west tonight, bringing scattered outbreaks of rain or drizzle, mainly to north-western and western parts.

Lowest temperatures tonight will be 12° to 15° in light to moderate westerly winds, fresh at times in the north-west.

Saturday

Tomorrow (Saturday, July 25) will be a cloudy day with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading south-eastwards across the country through the morning and afternoon.

The rain will be heaviest in the west and north, becoming lighter and patchier as it moves to other areas. Another spell of more persistent rain will move into western parts during the evening. There will be some hill and coastal mist also.

It will also be cooler and breezier than recent days, with highest temperatures of 15° to 21° and a moderate and occasionally fresh westerly wind.

Tomorrow night it will stay largely cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, along with hill and coastal mist.

Lowest temperatures will be 13° to 15° in a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

Sunday

Sunday (July 26) will start cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle at first, but it will become drier with occasional breaks in the cloud as the day goes on.

Highest temperatures are expected to be 15° to 20°, warmest in the south-east. It will also be breezy, with a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

Cloud and patchy rain or drizzle will continue in the north and near Atlantic coasts on Sunday night, but it will be dry with clear spells in other areas. Lowest temperatures should be 11° to 15° with westerly winds easing light.

Next week

Monday (July 27) will see some early sunny spells in the south and east, but otherwise it will be a largely cloudy day with rain or drizzle developing in many areas.

The rain is forecast to be most persistent in the north and west, and parts of the south-east may remain dry. Highest temperatures will range between 16° in the north-west and 23° in the south-east, in a moderate south-westerly wind.

Tuesday (July 28) will be another cloudy day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, most frequent in the north and west. Highest temperatures will be 17° to 24°, warmest in the east, in moderate to fresh south-westerly winds.