The extended range forecast, which includes the monthly and seasonal forecasts, can at times provide an insight into weather patterns in the months ahead. However, they should not be used for specific planning purposes as they have generally low skill compared with the 10-day forecast. This is because forecasts beyond one week become increasingly uncertain due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere. Further information can be found here: Monthly and seasonal forecast explained.
Images: Shutterstock/gabriel12. Met Éireann HQ during Storm Emma 2018
Forecast issued 1400 Tuesday 24th February 2026
Week 1 – Monday 02nd March to Sunday 08th March
A southwesterly air-flow looks set to cover Ireland for much of the week bringing mixed and changeable weather
conditions across the island. It looks set to be milder than average, especially in the east of the country. Rainfall
amounts are forecast to be a little above the March average, especially across parts of the west.
Week 2 – Monday 09th March to Sunday 15th March
Weather conditions look set to remain fairly unsettled across Ireland in Forecast Week 2 with Ireland situated
between areas of Low Pressure in the Atlantic and High Pressure over Europe. Mean air temperatures are forecast
to be above the March average nationwide. Rainfall amounts look set to continue to be a little above the
climatological average.
Week 3 – Monday 16th March to Sunday 22nd March
There remains a trend for mixed and changeable weather at Forecast Week 3 and through the middle days of
March. Areas of Low Pressure in the Atlantic are likely to extend frontal rain-bands over the country at times. As a
result, rainfall amounts during the week are forecast to be above normal nationwide. Temperatures are forecast to
be milder than normal for March, especially in the east of the country.
Week 4 – Monday 23rd March to Sunday 29th March
There is a weak signal for High Pressure to become a more dominant feature of Ireland’s weather by the end of
March bringing more settled weather conditions. Mean air temperatures are likely to trend slightly above normal
whilst rainfall totals are forecast to be close to the climatological average.
Seasonal Outlook for March, April and May (MAM)
The signal from the C3S seasonal models for Ireland during the MAM period is for above average temperatures. There is potential for wetter than average conditions through the three months, particularly in March.
Mean temperatures during MAM are signalled to be above average overall. Temperatures are likely to trend between 0.2 and 1.0°C above average generally. The potential for warmer than average temperatures increases through the period.
The rainfall forecast is less certain but there is potential for wetter than average conditions through MAM. There is a signal for wetter than normal conditions in March with potential then for both wetter and drier than normal conditions through April and May.
The sea surface temperatures around Irish coasts and over the Atlantic are expected to be above average during MAM, trending 0.2 to 1.0°C degrees higher than normal generally. Sea surface temperatures are expected to be highest in comparison to normal during May.