Forecast issued at: Thursday 08th January 2026 12:00
Rain
Over the past seven days, rainfall amounts have been generally below normal nationwide. Amounts were up around 50 to 95% of average in the north, west and south-west, while many parts of the midlands, mid-west and east received less than 20% of average amounts. Malin Head, Co. Donegal received the highest accumulation, where 28mm was recorded while Dublin Airport received the least, with 1.3mm. Conditions will be more mixed for the week ahead. Overall, rainfall amounts will be variable but they will be either closer to normal or above normal with 20 to 60mm expected overall, which is between 80 and 150% of normal, depending on location
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures were also well below average nationwide over the past week, ranging from 1.3 degrees recorded at both Casement Aerodrome and Dublin Airport to 5.6 degrees recorded at Bellmullet, Co. Mayo. This equates to between 0.8 and 4.1 degrees below average for the time of year. Mean soil temperatures have been close to or below normal, ranging from 1.6 to 5.1 degrees. Over the coming week, mean air temperatures will likely be close to or slightly above normal, with mean air values of between 4 and 7 degrees generally, possibly reaching up to 10 degrrees in the southwest. Mean soil temperatures will remain similar or may increase slightly in a few locations.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts were above normal countrywide over the past week. Northern and western parts recorded closer to average values with Malin Head recording 10 hours (106% of its average). However most other areas received around twice the average amount of sunshine. Indeed Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, received 31.7 hours of sunshine, equating to 266% of average. Mixed conditions over the week ahead will likely lead to near or below normal sunshine amounts.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will generally be poor for the coming week with more unsettled weather and it'll be cold too, especially through the end of this working week.
Spraying
Spraying opportunities will be limited for the week ahead due to mixed and more unsettled conditions.
Field Conditions
Currently well drained soils are saturated while most moderately and poorly drained soils are waterlogged apart form areas of the northeast which are saturated. There will be a steady deterioration in soil conditions over the coming week, with poorly and moderately drained soils becoming fully waterlogged for a time before moderately drained soils show a slight improvement becoming mostly saturated by the end of the week. Meanwhile well drained soils will remain saturated.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
