Met Éireann said the weather will become unsettled this weekend with some heavy and persistent rain and showers.

Rainfall amounts are expected to be average or above in the coming week, with the highest accumulations due in the south and west.

Rain in the east and south-east will clear this morning (Friday, August 28) to leave sunny spells and showers, some of which will be heavy. Cloud will build in the south-west this evening.

It will be a warm and humid day with top temperatures of 18° to 23°C, with light to moderate west to north-west breezes.

Rain will extend across the country from the south-west tonight. The rain will be heavy at times and there is a risk of isolated thunderstorms which may lead to localised flooding.

Overnight lows of 11° to 15° in light and variable winds, increasing moderate to fresh northeasterly in the south-west later.

Rain

Saturday morning be cloudy with widespread rain, heavy at times.

The rain will gradually clear eastwards later, followed by isolated showers and some brighter spells. It will remain cloudy in the east with rain for much of the day.

Light to moderate north to north-west winds with highest afternoon temperatures of 15° to 20°.

Cloud will increase on Saturday night bringing more frequent showers in the south and west, with heavy falls at times.

Lowest temperatures of 11° to 15° in light to moderate south to southeast or variable breezes.

Sunday will be cloudy and wet initially as rain spreads across the country, turning heavy and possibly thundery at times.

The rain will gradually clear to the north-east, leaving sunny spells and scattered showers.

Afternoon highs of 15° to 18° with moderate to fresh winds, variable in direction.

Sunday night will be breezy with a mix of clear spells and showers that will merger into longer spells of rain in places.

Moderate to fresh westerly winds with lowest temperatures of 11° to 14°.

Staying breezy on Monday with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 15° to 18°.

Met Éireann

Data from Met Éireann shows that soil moisture deficits in the south and east are between 40 and 85mm. Soils in parts of the north-west are close to saturation.

Apart from the far northwest, most soils are experiencing restrictions to growth.

As above average rainfall is forecast for the next seven days, soil moisture deficits will generally decrease by 20 to 40mm in the south and east.

Some soils in the north and north-west could become waterlogged or close to it.

Soil temperatures were mostly above average last week, ranging between 15° and 18.2°. Little change is expected to those values in the coming week.

Met Éireann has also issued a potato blight advisory. Weather conditions conducive to the spread of the disease will develop in many areas until Sunday evening (August 30).

There will be limited opportunities for spraying over the coming week.