This week is set to bring a mixture of scattered showers and dry spells; conditions will be blustery also, according to Met Eireann.

Cloudy, misty and wet weather is expected this morning. In the afternoon and evening brighter conditions, with scattered showers, are forecast to develop in western areas.

But rain is likely to persist elsewhere, with some further heavy and possibly thundery downpours in eastern areas. Temperatures will reach highs of 20º, in mostly moderate southerly winds.

Any lingering rain in the east is expected to clear quickly overnight, to leave conditions largely dry with variable cloud and just the odd light shower. Temperatures will range around 10º in moderate west or southwest breezes.

There will be some opportunities for drying and spraying over the coming week, but these will be limited due to the showery conditions, according to Met Eireann.

Meanwhile, soil moisture deficits are still running around 30mm to 40mm in parts of the east and southeast – which may restrict growth, it added.

But elsewhere deficits range from saturated – or close to saturation – in the western half of the country, to about 20mm in parts of the midlands.

Tomorrow

A weak ridge of high pressure is forecast to move over the country tomorrow, this is set to bring a predominantly dry day with bright spells and just a few passing light showers.

Top temperatures are likely to range from 16º to 19º, in moderate west or southwest winds.

Wednesday

A fairly deep low pressure system is expected to pass to the northwest of Ireland on Wednesday. Its associated frontal rain-bands are forecast to spread eastwards across the country during the course of the day.

It looks set to be a breezy day, with fresh to strong south or southwest winds, as maximum temperatures remain similar to the previous day.

Outlook

A mixture of brights spells and showers is likely to cover Ireland on Thursday, thanks to a brisk west to southwest airflow, according to Met Eireann.

There is a danger that showers may merge into longer spells of rain in parts of the south and southwest, as temperatures remain relatively unchanged, it added.

Current indications suggest that Friday will be wet and breezy, with the risk of spells of rain moving in from the Atlantic – accompanied by fresh and gusty west or southwest winds.