Forecast issued at: Friday 26th December 2025 15:00
Rain
Rainfall amounts have been below normal across the country over the last seven days. Amounts ranged from just 3.7mm at Dublin Airport (23% of normal) to 20.1 mm at Cork Airport (67% of normal). With high pressure dominating for the coming week, there is little to no rainfall forecast, with just occasional spots of drizzle.
Temperatures
Air temperatures were generally near or above normal over the past week, with mean values of 5.6 degrees at Knock/Ireland West Airport, Co. Mayo to 7.9 degrees at Malin Head, Co. Donegal, which ranges from around average over much of the West and South Midlands to 1 or 2 degrees above average in the North and East. In the Southwest, last weeks mean air temperature of 6.6 degrees at Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry, equated to a degree or so below normal. Mean soil temperatures are generally above normal currently, ranging between 5.7 and 7.2 degrees. The coming week will be cold with some frost at night, especially away from southern and eastern fringes. Overall, mean air temperatures will likely range between 3 and 8 degrees, which is between 1 and 3 degrees below average for most. Temperatures will be closer to normal in eastern parts. Mean soil temperatures will decrease.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts varied through the country over the past week, but with all areas getting either close to or above normal amounts and some areas getting well above average. The least amount of sunshine was recorded at Belmullet, Co. Mayo, with 10.1 hours (114% of normal) recorded there. Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry recorded the most sunshine, receiving 21.8 hours (235% of normal). While there'll be some sunny spells at times, it'll generally become cloudier later in the weekend and into next week, so sunshine amounts are expected to be lower next week, with below average sunshine amounts expected for most, though close to normal in some areas.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be generally poor this week as it will be cold with mostly light winds, though drying conditions will be mostly moderate early in the period close to the East and South coast where there'll be more of a breeze.
Spraying
Plenty of opportunity for spraying generally over the next week with mainly dry conditions and light winds expected, though there will be little or no opportunity for spraying initially in Southern and Eastern coastal parts due to the moderate easterly breeze.
Field Conditions
All well and moderately drained soils are saturated or close to it while poorly drained soils are either saturated or close to being waterlogged. With mostly dry conditions over the coming week, there will be an improvement, is soil conditions most notable in poorly drained soils. However, the improvement will be slight and gradual due to mostly poor drying condiitons.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
