National Forecast

Issued at: 17 December 2018 06:10

TODAY - Monday 17th December

This morning any frost will soon clear and it will start mostly dry and dull with a few bright spells in the east. However, it will be cloudy in the west with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards during the morning and early afternoon. Later in the evening the rain will turn persistent and heavy in the west with the risk of spot flooding. Southerly winds will be moderate to fresh and gusty but during the afternoon winds will increase strong with gales developing near Atlantic coasts. Afternoon temperatures will be around 9 to 12 degrees.

TONIGHT - Monday 17th December

Tonight rain will turn very heavy in the west with the risk of thundery downpours at times. The spell of very heavy rain will slowly spread eastwards with the risk of spot flooding. South to southeast winds will increase further to reach gale force with severe gusts. Near coasts winds will reach gale to strong gale force. Later in the night winds will veer southwest and moderate over the western half of the country. It will be relatively mild overnight of 8 to 11 degrees, but falling to around 5 to 7 degrees in the west around dawn.

TOMORROW - Tuesday 18th December

There will be heavy rain over Ulster and Leinster on Tuesday morning followed by a clearance from the west to scattered showers and some sunny spells later. Some of the showers will be heavy with the risk of hail or thunder, especially in the west. It will turn cooler with the clearance with afternoon temperatures of just 6 to 9 degrees. South to southwest winds will moderate to fresh but over the east winds will still be strong to gale force for a time in the morning.

National Outlook

Summary: Showery conditions for much of this week, some heavy or more frequent and with the risk of hail or thunder. However, a spell of persistent rain on Friday will clear later to scattered showers.

There will be scattered showers with clear spells on Tuesday night. The showers will be heavy and more frequent in the west and southwest. South to southwest winds will be light to moderate with patches of mist or fog forming. Lowest temperatures will fall to between 3 and 7 degrees with perhaps some grass frost in the east and north.

On Wednesday showery rain will affect the west with some heavy thundery bursts likely. Further east there will be scattered showers with some bright or sunny spells. Top temperatures will stay around 6 to 8 degrees in mostly moderate south to southwest winds, but strong and gusty near western and southern coasts.

Showery rain will continue on Wednesday night over the western half of the country with scattered showers and some clear spells in the east. Moderate to fresh southwest winds will gradually veer westerly, but remain strong and gusty along west and south coasts. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with a touch of grass frost over the eastern half of the country.

Thursday will see scattered showers with some sunny spells. However, the showers will be heavy and more frequent in the northwest and north with the risk of the odd thundery downpour at first. But showers will ease and clear southeastwards later in the day. Top temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees. Fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest winds will veer westerly in the afternoon and moderate.

Thursday night will be mostly dry with clear spells at first. However, later in the night cloud will build from the southwest with a spell of persistent rain pushing into the southwest and becoming widespread by morning. Winds will fall light with patches of mist or fog forming. Lowest temperatures fall to around 1 to 5 degrees with some grass frost possible in the north.

Friday will start cloudy with a spell of persistent rain clearing northeastwards to more showery conditions with some sunny spells. Top temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees.

Saturday is likely to continue with showery conditions with some sunny spells. Top temperatures around 8 to 11 degrees in moderate southwesterly breezes.