Met Éireann has warned that the weather will remain unsettled this week with rainfall “forecast to be above normal in most areas”.
According to the national meteorological service eastern and southern counties will see rainfall totals of between 10 to 20mm.
However it is likely to be worse in the west and north where wetter conditions are forecast with between 25 and 50mm of rainfall expected.
Met Éireann has advised: “The weather this coming week will be unsettled, so sunshine amounts are likely to remain generally below normal.
“Drying conditions will be generally poor this week, as any dry spells will be short lived.”
According to farming organisations the persistent poor weather is creating “serious pressure” for farmers and is adding to stress levels for families.
The deputy president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Alice Doyle, has highlighted that the level of rainfall has made it “impossible to move livestock; planting and sowing is way behind and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work”.
Latest figures from the national meteorological service show that the amount of rainfall was “above average in most areas away from the north coast over the past week”.
“Leinster and Munster recorded two to three times the average for the time of year,” it added.
Weather
According to Met Éireann there will be little reprieve for farmers from the weather this week either.
However there are likely to be “slightly milder than average mean temperatures” with air temperatures expected to be between seven to ten degrees – averaging out one or two degrees above normal.
The national meteorological service has forecast today (Monday, March 18) that rain will spread throughout the country this afternoon and evening with highest temperatures reaching between 11 to 13 degrees.
Southerly winds will also increase “fresh to strong and gusty this afternoon”.
Tonight will be cloudy with widespread rain but is forecast to clear overnight.
Tuesday
On Tuesday (March, 19) Met Éireann has forecast a “mix of cloudy periods and some sunny spells” with only a “slight chance of an isolated shower” which will lead into a cloudy but mostly dry night.
It also said there will be highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light northerly breezes.
Wednesday
A cloudy start with a few showers “lingering across southern and eastern areas” is expected on Wednesday (March 20) but “longer dry spells” are forecast to develop nationwide in the afternoon with light northerly breezes.
It will also be mostly dry on Wednesday night with light winds but overnight southerly winds are expected ahead of a “band of rain moving into western counties”.
Thursday
Met Éireann has forecast that Thursday (March 21) will start “cloudy and dull with widespread rain and blustery winds”.
“The rain will be heavy at times but will gradually move away during the afternoon leaving mostly cloudy conditions with a few light showers.
“Highs of 11 to 14 degrees,” it added.
By night it is expected to continue to remain cloudy with scattered showers, “perhaps a little more persistent across the northwest” but at the same time will be quite mild overnight.
Friday
According to the national meteorological service the unsettled pattern of weather will continue into Friday which is likely to see “widespread showers”.
It has advised that these showers could be heavy at times and could be accompanied by “strong and gusty winds”. Temperatures are expected to be in the highs of around 9 to 12 degrees.
Farming weather
Met Éireann has again advised that all soils are “currently saturated or waterlogged”.
“Not much change can be expected over the coming week.
“Opportunities for spraying will be limited this week too. Best opportunities are on Tuesday as the winds ease light and the showers gradually die out,” it has forecast.