An unsettled week is in store for the country with spells of wet and windy weather expected, according to Met Eireann.

It will however be slightly milder than normal, with mostly frost-free conditions, the meteorological office has said.

It will be dull and misty for much of the day with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle, but should stay mainly dry in the west.

Highest temperatures will max out at 9° to 13°, in light variable or southeast winds.

Scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue overnight. Heavier rain will reach western coastal areas by dawn. Lowest temperatures will drop to between 4° and 9°, with it to be coolest in the west.

South-east breezes will increase fresh along the east coast and later over Munster.

Drying conditions and spraying conditions will both be poor generally over the coming days.

Well-drained soils are currently trafficable but they will become saturated this coming week.

Moderately and poorly-drained soils are saturated or waterlogged away from eastern areas, but all areas will become saturated by the end of the week and waterlogged for most poorly-drained soils.

Tomorrow

Rain in the west will spread to all parts tomorrow morning. It will become drier towards evening with just scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 10° to 13° are expected, according to Met Eireann.

It will become windy everywhere as well with fresh to strong south-east winds. During the afternoon winds will moderate in most areas but it will stay windy along Leinster coasts.

Tomorrow night is expected to be drier, but rather cold and misty too, all in near calm. Later in the night outbreaks of rain will start again, especially across east and south-east counties, where it will turn heavy.

Temperatures will drop to lows of 3° to 7°, with coldest conditions expected in the west and south-west, and some patchy frost possible.

Outlook

Wednesday will be dull with further outbreaks of rain – which will be heavy and persistent across Ulster and Leinster.

Some brighter spells are also expected, however, with the best of these across Munster, where it will also be driest, Met Eireann forecasts.

A cool and breezy day is in store, with highest temperatures of 7° to 11°, in a sometimes fresh westerly breeze.

Wednesday night will see a few coastal showers about, but overall dry with clear spells. It will be cold, with some frost possible, and overnight lows of 2° to 4°, in light to moderate southerly breezes.

A mix of cloud and sunny spells is on the cards for Thursday with scattered showers – most of these across southern counties, as well as west and south-west coasts.

Highest temperatures will reach 9° to 12° in a mostly moderate southerly breeze.

Thursday night will again see a few coastal showers about, but overall it should be dry with clear spells. It will be cold, though frost is unlikely. Overnight temperatures will drop to 4° to 6°, in light to moderate southerly breezes.