Forecast issued at: Wednesday 22nd July 2026 13:00
Rain
There has been little to no rainfall across the country over the past week with accumulations below 1.1mm at all stations (between 0 and 6% of average). Over the coming seven days, rainfall amounts will remain below normal over the southern half of the country with accumulations of 17 to 104% of average. To the west and north, rainfall amounts will be two to three times the average (220 to 300% of average), equating to accumulations of 35 to 53mm.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures were generally above average over the past week ranging between 0.2 degrees in the coastal north, to 3.8 degrees in the south. Temperatures ranged between 15.1 to 19.1 degrees across the country, with the highest temperature recorded at Cork Airport. Soil temperatures were well above average, ranging between 17.4 to 23.4 degrees. Over the next wek temperatures will return closer to average, with higher than average temperatures to the east and south, ranging generally between 15 to 18 degrees. Soil temperatures are also expected to remain above average.
Sunshine
It was much sunnier than average nationwide over the past week with sunshine amounts ranging between 129% and 285% of average. It was sunniest in the southeast with 93.5 hours of sunshine recorded at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. Duller in the west - Belmullet, Co. Mayo recorded the lowest amount of sunshine with 39.7 hours. While settled conditions will continue for the working week, it will be quite cloudy particularly in the west and north. It will turn more changeable then at the weekend. Sunshine amounts will be below average over the coming seven days as a result.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be good over the coming days due to settled and warm conditions.
Spraying
There will be good opportunities for spraying over the coming days with dry conditions and light to moderate winds.
Field Conditions
There is restriction to growth in all areas at present with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) ranging between 2mm in the north to 88mm in the southeast. Ground is hard across Leinster, Munster and the midlands, with near drought conditions in east Munster and south Leinster. SMDs will remain similar over the coming week, whereas to the north SMDs will likely decrease with the forecasted rain. Moderately and poorly drained soils will likely become saturated in the far north.
Further Comments
A condition orange high fire risk has been issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine until 12 noon on Friday 24th July.Arising from continued high temperature weather patterns a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist. Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period. With soil moisture deficits increasing there is an added risk of underground peat fires on bogs where fires occur and an increased availability of larger fuel types across all land types.
