Following a couple of days of dry sunny weather, the weekend weather forecast indicates that some parts of the country may see cooler temperatures and rain on the way.
According to Met Éireann, it will be warm and dry today, Friday, September 6, with long spells of sunshine developing in most areas.
It will be cloudy at times in the south with the chance of some showers developing there later. Highest temperatures of 20° to 25° with light to moderate north-easterly winds, fresher at times near eastern coasts.
It will be mostly dry tonight with long clear spells though still cloudier at times in the south with the chance of a few heavy showers.
It will be humid with temperatures not falling below 11° to 15° in light north-easterly breezes with patches of mist and fog developing.
Weekend weather
Largely dry tomorrow, Saturday, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, the best of which will be in the west and north.
There will likely be a few showers, mainly for parts of Munster and Leinster with highest temperatures of 19° to 24° in light variable breezes.
Saturday night will see clear spells at first with some heavy showers in parts of Leinster and Munster but turning cloudier from the north-west with patchy light rain and drizzle moving into west Ulster and Connacht by morning.
It will be another humid night with temperatures not falling below 13° to 16° in light northerly breezes, more moderate near Atlantic coasts. Some mist and fog patches will develop also.
On Sunday, it will be mostly dull and cloudy with some patchy rain and drizzle about, although there is a chance of heavier and more persistent rain in the south-east.
Becoming drier towards the evening with sunny spells developing with highest temperatures of 15° to 19°. North to north-west winds will be mostly light to moderate but fresher for Atlantic coasts.
Sunday night is expected to be mostly dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells though there will be a few isolated showers. Lowest temperatures will range from 9° to 13° in light to moderate north-westerly winds.
Next week
Monday is expected to be dry and sunny in the morning before turning cloudier from the west with well scattered showers following.
It will be a cooler day with highest temperatures of 14° to 19° in moderate, occasionally fresh, westerly winds.
On Tuesday, sunshine and showers are expected, most frequent in the north where they may be heavy. Highest temperatures of 11° to 16° in moderate to fresh west to north-west winds, strong at times in the north and north-west.
Farming weather
Drying conditions will be good in many areas on Friday and Saturday, though southern coasts are at risk from some rain.
Spraying conditions will be good in many areas later on Friday when the breeze eases, and on Saturday, though may be poor at times in eastern and southern coastal areas.
Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) are generally between 10mm and 50mm in the east and south, highest in the east.
However, soils are saturated or close to saturation, in parts of the north-west and north midlands, with poorly drained soils in the north-west waterlogged.
With a mixture of drier spells and outbreaks of rain expected in the coming week, SMDs will remain broadly similar.
Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will likely develop during Friday and over the weekend for much of the country.