Unsettled weather is set to continue over the weekend and throughout next week, as temperatures turn cooler, according to Met Eireann.

This morning, Friday, is forecast to be dry and bright across most eastern counties, but outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west are likely to spread to the rest of the country by the afternoon.

Some of this rain may turn persistent over Ulster, while temperatures are set to range from 9 to 11 degrees in moderate southwesterly breezes.

It is forecast to be mild, misty and mostly cloudy overnight, with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle.

These showers may turn heavy in western areas by morning, while it is also set to turn mostly cloudy with strong southerly winds and overnight lows of 6 to 8 degrees.

Both drying and spraying conditions are expected to be poor in the coming days, according to Met Eireann.

Well drained soils are to remain trafficable over the coming days, while slight improvements are expected in moderately drained soils during the weekend.

Poorly drained soils are set to remain saturated or waterlogged and no changes are expected in the next few days.

Tomorrow

Conditions are forecast to be wet and windy tomorrow morning, Saturday. This is set to continue into the afternoon with strong and gusty southerly winds and rain, which may turn heavy at times, in all areas.

Later in the afternoon and in the early evening some bright and sunny spells, with just a few scattered showers, are forecast to spread eastwards.

Temperatures are likely to reach between 10 to 12 degrees, as less windy conditions are expected.

It is set to be cold for a time on Saturday night with temperatures dropping to around two degrees, while patches of frost are also forecast to develop.

But freshening southerly winds and increasing cloud from the Atlantic should bring a rise in temperatures later in the night.

Sunday

Sunday is set to be a windy and mostly cloudy day, as temperatures range from 10 to 11 degrees.

A few bright spells are likely to develop in eastern areas at first, but rain in western and northwest areas in the morning is expected to spread to eastern areas in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, colder, drier, less windy weather will follow overnight, with scattered showers, according to Met Eireann.

Overnight temperatures are forecast to drop to just below freezing, with some frost and icy patches set to develop before dawn.

Early indications suggest that the early days of next week will be cold and changeable, with rain or wintry showers at times.