Forecast issued at: Saturday 03rd January 2026 13:00
Rain
Many areas have been mostly dry the past week with rainfall amounts significantly below average. Accumulations ranged between 0 and 8.6mm, equating to 0 to 28% of average.
It was driest in Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford with 0mm recorded. The highest accumulation was recorded at Malin Head, Co. Donegal with 8.6mm (or 28% of average. Conditions are looking to gradually become more unsettled throughout the week with scattered showers at first followed by outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Rainfall accumulations are expected to return to average or above for this time of year.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures were generally below normal over the past week with temperatures ranging from 2.7 to 6 degrees, which is -0.7 to -2.4 degrees below average for this time of year. Roches Point, Co. Cork recorded the highest temperature with 6 degrees, while the coldest temperature was recorded in Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan with 2.7 degrees. The next few days will be even colder with widespread frost and ice overnight. Temperatures are expected to slowly recover towards the end of the week, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees, mildest along coasts and colder further inland. This equates to 0 to -3 degrees below normal for this time of year. Mean soil temperatures over the past seven days ranged between 3.2 and 6.1 degrees and are expected to decrease slightly over the coming week.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts varied through the country over the past week. The least amount of sunshine was recorded at Malin Head, Co. Donegal with 5.7 hours (62% of normal) recorded there. The highest amount of sunshine was recorded at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, with 18.2 hours or 156% of normal received there. There will be increasing amounts of sunshine in the coming days as a clear Arctic airmass becomes established over Ireland. Conditions are expected to become more unsettled towards the later half of the week. Sunshine amounts are likely to be average or slightly above, especially in the east and south of the country.
Drying Conditions
Scattered wintry showers are forecast over the coming days for Connacht and Ulster, with mostly dry conditions elsewhere. However, it will be cold with frosty nights, so drying conditions will remain fairly poor overall.
Spraying
There'll be good spraying opportunities over the coming days in parts of the south and east with mainly dry conditions and light to moderate winds expected. Spraying conditions will be limited in the north and north-west as as result of scattered wintry showers. Spraying opportunities will decrease toward the end of the week as conditions become more unsettled.
Field Conditions
Field conditions have improved in recent days with trafficability beginning to be possible in well and moderately drained soils. Poorly drained soils remain saturated or waterlogged. A slight deterioration is expected over the coming days with more precipitation forecast.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
