Rainy conditions to return in parts over coming days

The coming days will see a return of rainy and windy conditions in parts of the country, particularly on coastal areas.

Today (Friday, March 5) will be a mix of cloud and sunny spells. It will be largely dry apart from some isolated patches of light rain or drizzle, mainly in coastal parts of Munster and Connacht.

Highest temperatures will be 6° to 9° in light to moderate southeasterly winds, freshening at times along Atlantic coasts.

Most areas will be dry with clear spells tonight but it will be cloudier with some patchy rain or drizzle near coasts in the south and west. It will be a cold night, with lowest temperatures ranging between -3° and +2°, coldest in the north and east where some frost will develop, in light to moderate southeasterly winds.

Tomorrow (Saturday, March 6) will start cold and dry, with sunny spells for many areas, but cloud will increase through the day and patchy rain will move into coastal parts of the west and northwest.

Tomorrow will be a cool day with highest temperatures of 6° to 9°, in light to moderate southerly breezes.

Saturday night will be mostly dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells, although there may be some patchy drizzle in coastal parts of the west and northwest at times.

Minimum temperatures will range between -2° and +4°, coldest in the north and east where some frost will develop. Light to moderate southerly winds will continue.

Sunday (March 7) will be generally cloudy and dry but patchy light rain and drizzle will continue to affect coastal parts of the west and northwest. Highest temperatures will be 7° to 10° with light to moderate southerly winds.

It will hold dry in the east and southeast on Sunday night, but rain will push into Ulster, Connacht and west Munster. Southerly winds will be mostly light to moderate but will increase fresh along western coasts. Lowest temperatures will be 2° to 6°.

Rain will extend to all areas on Monday (March 8) and will be heavy at times in the west. Afternoon temperatures will reach 7° to 10° and winds will be mostly moderate and southerly veering westerly later.

Rain will gradually clear from the east and south on Monday night and will be followed by clear spells and isolated showers, mainly in the northwest. Some frost will form as temperatures fall to between -1° and +2° and fresh southerly winds will develop on western coasts towards morning.

Tuesday (March 9) will start off largely dry with good spells of sunshine in the east, but rain will move into the west during the morning and will extend across the country through the day, becoming heavy.

It will become windy too, with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds developing. Highest temperatures will be 7° in the northeast to 11° in the southwest.

In terms of the outlook beyond Tuesday, unsettled conditions are expected to remain, with rain and showers, and breezy or windy at times too.