This week will start with fairly mixed conditions, though it will turn drier as the week progresses, according to Met Éireann.
It will be generally dull and breezy today (Monday, September 7), with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle to begin. Some very heavy bursts will lead to spot flooding. While it will dry up in most areas later this morning, intermittent rain and drizzle will persist across Atlantic counties, especially along the west coast.
It will be humid, with hill and coastal fog, but rather warm where sunny spells break through. Highest temperatures will be 16° to 21° or 22°, warmest in the south and southeast. West to southwest winds will be mostly moderate to fresh in strength.
Scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue to affect Atlantic counties tomorrow (Tuesday, September 8), heaviest along the coast. It will be drier elsewhere, outside of patchy drizzle, and warm where sunshine develops.
Tomorrow will continue humid, again with hill and coastal fog. Highest temperatures will range from 16° to 23°, west to east. Moderate southwest breezes will be fresher near coasts.
Scattered outbreaks of rain will move eastwards from the Atlantic on Tuesday night, followed by drier conditions. Lowest temperatures on Tuesday night should be 10° to 12° in mostly light to moderate westerly breezes.
It will be chilly overnight on Wednesday, with lowest temperatures of 5° to 9°, with light westerly breezes.
Most areas will stay dry once again on Thursday (September 10), with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. It will be cooler though, with highest temperatures of 13° to 16°, in light southwest breezes.
Friday (September 11), will be wet across Ulster and Connacht for a start, with rainfall extending to other areas during the day – although it will turn scattered. Highest temperatures should be 15° to 18°, mildest and driest in the southeast.
Current indications suggest that next weekend will bring a lot of dry weather with mild spells of sunshine and southerly breezes.
Drying, spraying and soil
In Met Éireann’s latest farming forecast, issued yesterday (Sunday, September 6), the national forecaster explains that drying conditions will be limited today and tomorrow, but will improve on Wednesday and Thursday. Conditions may deteriorate again on Friday as rain increases.
The same is true for spraying opportunities: Limited today and tomorrow, improving in drier conditions on Wednesday and Thursday, and becoming limited again on Friday in further rain.
Soils are currently saturated or close to saturation across the country, with soil moisture deficits below 10mm in all areas. Some poorly drained soils in the northern half of the country are waterlogged while soils in the south are slightly drier than elsewhere.
A mix between outbreaks of rain and dry spells in the coming week means field conditions will remain similar in most places, with most soils close to saturation. However, soils are expected to become drier in the south of the country with rainfall here expected to be below normal in the coming week.