Unseasonably wet weather is set to largely continue this week, with a rainfall warning this morning setting the tone for the coming days.
A Status Yellow rainfall warning is currently in place for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.
The warning came into effect at 8:00pm yesterday, Sunday, July 26, and will remain valid until 10:00am this morning, Monday, July 27. Heavy rain is set to lead to accumulations of 20mm to 30mm in some places, with a risk of spot flooding.
It will be sunny in many areas this evening. Highest temperatures will be 15° to 19°, with brisk northwest breezes developing, which will be coolest along Atlantic coasts.
It will be mostly dry tonight, with clear spells, though well-scattered showers will continue – most of these closer to the Atlantic. Lowest temperatures will be 8° to 12°, in mostly moderate west to northwest breezes.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28, will be a mostly dry day with sunny spells. However, cloud will build into the afternoon and scattered showers will occur, with most of these across Atlantic counties.
Wednesday, July 29, will start out mostly dry with hazy sunshine. However, it will become cloudy across the southwest and west with outbreaks of rain and drizzle moving in off the Atlantic, gradually spreading elsewhere later.
It will be relatively cool with highest temperatures of 14° to 17°, in light to moderate southerly breezes. It will be mild, humid and misty on Wednesday night, with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle; possibly some very heavy falls later.
Lowest temperatures on Wednesday night will be 11° to 14°, in freshening southerly winds.
It will be largely dry and humid on Thursday night. Lowest temperatures should range between 13° and 15°, in moderate southeast winds, fresh along Atlantic coasts.
Friday, July 31, will be another warm and humid day with hazy sunny spells. Overall it will be dry, though some showery bursts of rain will occur too. Highs of 19° to 24° will be seen, in moderate southwest breezes.
Current indications suggest that temperatures will drop back next weekend.
Drying, spraying and field conditions
In its latest farming forecast, issued yesterday, Sunday, July 26, Met Éireann noted that drying conditions should improve later on today, apart from some parts of the west and north. Conditions will likely deteriorate on Wednesday, but will possibly pick-up again on Thursday.
There will be opportunities for spraying later on Monday and at times on Tuesday. Meanwhile, soil moisture deficits are generally running at 20mm to 50mm in the south and southeast of the country. Elsewhere, soils are close to saturation or slightly drier. Little change is expected over the coming week.