Forecast issued at: Friday 26th April 2024 15:00
Rain
There has been a much-welcomed drier spell of weather over Ireland for the past week with less than 5 mm of rainfall recorded in many areas for the week. It has been a slightly less dry across the south and southwest however with up to 10mm recorded. The coming week will be more mixed and rainfall amounts will be higher. There will be some showers over the weekend and more persistent rain at times from Monday onwards. Rainfall totals over the next 7 days will range from 10mm in the north to 50 mm in the south. This equates to between 70 and 280% of average.
Temperatures
For the past seven days, mean air temperatures ranged from 7.3 to 10.7 degrees across Ireland, coldest in the east and warmest in the south and southwest. Temperatures were below average in north Ulster and parts of east Leinster by between 0 and -1.6 degrees. For the rest of the country, mean temperatures were above average by between 0.2 and 1.6 degrees. Soil temperatures have been well above average ranging from 10.4 to 12.6 degrees, which is between 1.1 and 3.8 degrees above average. This weekend will continue cool by day with air and grass frosts in places at night. It will become milder from Monday onwards. So, overall mean air temperatures for the coming week will be around average at around 9 or 10 degrees. Soil temperatures will continue above average.
Sunshine
For the past week, sunshine amounts have been well above average, ranging from 110 to 155% of average. The next 7 days will likely bring near average sunshine amounts as the settled spell of weather gives way to more unsettled cloudier conditions from Monday onwards.
Drying Conditions
There will be some decent drying periods over the weekend, but some showers also. Drying conditions will be poorer early next week due to more persistent rain at times.
Spraying
With light to moderate mainly northerly breezes, there will be some decent opportunities for spraying over the weekend although there will be some showers. Early next week, spraying conditions will be more limited.
Field Conditions
The mainly dry weather over the past week has improved soil trafficability significantly. Soil moisture deficits currently range from 10 mm in the northeast to 20 mm in parts of the south. Soil trafficability will continue to improve over the weekend. However, it will deteriorate as we head through next week.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
