Soil conditions are likely to deteriorate over the coming week with wetter than normal weather expected, according to Met Éireann’s latest forecast published today (Tuesday, April 2).
In the week ahead, rainfall amounts will largely be between two and four times higher than normal, with wettest conditions expected in the west and southwest.
All poorly drained and some moderately drained soils will be waterlogged, while all other soils will be saturated over the coming week, according to the national forecaster.
Poorly drained soils are currently saturated or waterlogged. In the south and southeast, well and moderately drained soils are saturated but otherwise they are drier with light soils trafficable.
Drying conditions will be generally moderate or poor this week. Opportunities for spraying will be limited due to showers and spells of rain and often breezy conditions.
Weather
Over the past week, it has been wetter than average in Munster, south Leinster and Ulster with rainfall amounts between 130% and 220% of the average, according to Met Éireann.
Meanwhile, Connacht and north Leinster were generally drier than average with rainfall amounts between 50% and 100% of the average over the past week.
It was wettest in the south last week with 42.4mm recorded at Cork Airport, while the midlands were much drier with 9.5mm recorded in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Mean air temperatures have generally been around average or slightly below over the past seven days. Temperatures ranged between 6° in the northwest and 8° in the south.
Soil temperatures have been near or above normal, ranging from 6.9° to 9.4°, which is between 0.2° and 2.8° above average, according to the latest farming commentary.
It will be slightly milder over the next week with mean air temperatures increasing to approximately 8°-10°. Soil temperatures will remain above normal.
In the week ahead, sunshine is likely to be below normal. In most areas, it has been brighter than average over the past seven days, while it was slightly duller in western coastal regions.
It was sunniest in the southwest with 43.7 hours of sunshine recorded at Shannon Airport. Meanwhile, 22.2 hours of sunshine were recorded at Belmullet, Mayo last week.