Dry and bright weather up to the weekend

A cool and crisp start this morning with fog lingering in places and a few isolated showers. The latest bulletin from Met Éireann says good sunny spells will develop during the afternoon though isolated showers will continue. Highest temperatures of 11 or 12 degrees in light easterly or variable breezes.

A chilly night tonight with long clear spells and well scattered showers. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees in light easterly or variable breezes with mist and fog patches developing.

A bright start is forecast on Friday as mist and fog patches clear with some well scattered showers. Showers continuing in the afternoon with good sunny spells, though the showers will become more isolated later in the day. Highest temperatures of around 11 degrees in mainly light easterly breezes.

Overall the national outlook is for a lot of dry weather with sunny spells and well scattered showers until Sunday. Becoming more unsettled coming in to next week with spells of heavy rain.

Friday night: A mostly dry night with clear spells and just well scattered showers. Mist and fog patches will form in mainly light easterly winds. Outbreaks of light rain will affect parts of the southwest though with fresher winds. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees.

Saturday is promised largely dry with sunny spells as outbreaks of rain clear from the southwest during the morning. Some well scattered showers will affect the country during the morning and afternoon but dying out towards evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light easterly or variable breezes but remaining breezier in the southwest.

Saturday night: Dry overnight with clear spells with mist and fog patches developing in light easterly or variable breezes. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees, coolest in the midlands and warmest in the southwest.

Sunday should be dry to start with some bright spells. Cloud will thicken from the southwest later ahead of rain approaching towards evening and extending across most of the country during the night. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees, coolest over Ulster, in light southerly breezes and dropping to 6 to 10 degrees overnight as southerly winds freshen, becoming strong on Atlantic coasts.

A wet day is forecast for Monday as persistent rain continues to push in from the Atlantic, turning heavy at times as it extends across the country. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong on coasts but becoming mainly light variable during the evening.

Current indications suggest that it will continue unsettled with heavy rain continuing into Tuesday morning and windy conditions on Wednesday.