Weather conditions are set to be quite unsettled as the National Ploughing Championships get underway in 2017, according to Met Eireann.

Today, Monday, is expected to be dry and bright, with good spells of hazy sunshine. Temperatures are likely to reach 14º to 17º in light breezes.

Most places will be dry overnight, but cloud will tend to increase in western counties with some patchy light rain or drizzle developing there. A few areas of fog are forecast to form, as temperatures drop to between 6º and 8º.

Tomorrow

It is set to be generally dry tomorrow morning, Tuesday, but outbreaks of rain and drizzle will become more persistent in the afternoon and evening – especially over western counties.

There is a danger of rain turning persistent and locally heavy in Atlantic coastal counties on Tuesday night, with scattered outbreaks spreading further east overnight in strengthening southerly winds.

A mild night is expected, with minimum temperatures dropping to no lower than 11º or 12º.

Wednesday

Conditions are forecast to be rather breezy, dull and damp to begin with on Wednesday. Outbreaks of rain – heavy and persistent for a time – are forecast, with a risk of spot flooding in places.

The rain is set to turn lighter and patchier from the west during the afternoon, as moderate to fresh and gusty southerly winds veer to a lighter west or northwest.

Temperatures will reach highs of 15º to 18º, but values will turn progressively cooler through the afternoon, according to Met Eireann.

There is some uncertainty regarding the clearance of the rain near the east coast on Wednesday night.

But it looks as if it will be a mainly dry night elsewhere, with lows of 4º to 7º. Conditions are expected to be milder where – and if – the rain stalls over eastern counties, with lows of 8º or 9º more likely here.

Thursday

A bright, fresh day with sunny spells and passing showers is forecast for the final day of the National Ploughing Championships 2017 in Screggan, Co. Offaly.

Any residual rain in the east should be mostly cleared into the Irish Sea by lunchtime, Met Eireann added.

Light to moderate northwest winds will back southwest by evening, as temperatures reach highs of 14º to 16º.

Outlook

Another spell of rain looks set to cross in from the Atlantic early on Friday, with an eastward clearance expected during the afternoon.

Early indications suggest that the changeable conditions look set to continue with further spells of wet and windy weather – especially in the north and west. Some drier, brighter and more settled interludes are forecast at times too.