There will be a mixture of showers and sunny spells nationwide this weekend, however, Met Eireann has forecast for temperatures to improve early next week.

It will be cloudy this morning with scattered outbreaks of showery rain near the east coast for a time.

A few breaks are forecast to develop in the cloud across the western half of the country during the day, but mostly it will remain cloudy.

Highest temperatures are expected to range between 13 to 17 degrees in moderate northerly breezes.

Tonight will be dry and cool with lowest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees.

Soil moisture deficits are currently between 20 and 40mm but locally lower of possibly saturated due to recent thundery downpours, according to Met Eireann.

It has said that soil moisture deficits will only slightly improve in the week ahead.

Both spraying and drying conditions will be good on Saturday, however they look set to deteriorate after Sunday.

Saturday

It will be generally dry for most of tomorrow and sunny spells are forecast to occur through the morning/early afternoon.

However, Met Eireann has said that cloud will generally increase over the second half of the day with outbreaks of drizzle or light rain during the evening.

Highest temperatures tomorrow Saturday will vary between 17 and 20 degrees in light breezes.

Sunday

Rain is forecast to spread across the country during Sunday morning and to continue through the afternoon, becoming heavier towards evening.

A clearance will finally occur on Sunday night, Met Eireann has said.

Monday

Monday morning will be cloudy and showery, while rain is forecast to persist for the first half of the day.

The skies will brighten in the afternoon, although Met Eireann has said the weather will still remain showery. Temperatures look set to improve again with highs of 17 to 20 degrees.

Tuesday

Current indications suggest that there will be the odd shower on Tuesday, but it will be mainly dry with good sunshine at times.

Temperatures will increase slightly on Monday and it will become warm with highs of 17 to 21 degrees.

Wednesday

According to Met Eireann, Wednesday will be warm and close with highs of 16 to 21 degrees, but scattered heavy showers are forecast to break out through the day