National Forecast

Issued at: 18 May 2026 08:30

TODAY - Monday 18th May

Dry for many this morning with some bright or sunny spells. Cloud and rain in the southwest will gradually spread northeastwards through the day, with the rain turning heavy at times. Staying dry for much of the day in Ulster and north Leinster. Some hill and coastal mist and fog will develop later in the south and southwest. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees in mainly light to moderate southerly or variable breezes, backing southeasterly and increasing moderate to fresh through the afternoon and evening, stronger in southern and western coastal parts.

TONIGHT

The persistent rain will clear northeastwards through the first half of tonight, with some dry spells to follow, but with showers and a longer spell of rain following from the southwest too, heavy at times. Temperatures will not fall below 8 to 11 degrees in moderate to fresh southeast winds, veering southerly and decreasing mostly moderate.

TOMORROW - Tuesday 19th May

Cloudy for most with widespread showers, occasionally merging to longer spells of rain, heavy at times, with the chance of a few isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees in a moderate, occasionally fresh, southwest wind, stronger at times in coastal parts of the south and west

National Outlook

Summary: Continuing generally unsettled for the rest of the working week with some showers or longer spells of rain at times. However, it'll gradually become warmer, with the likelihood of drier settled weather next weekend.

Tuesday night: Tuesday night will bring further showers and with some longer spells of rain likely further north for a time. However, it'll become drier through the night. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in moderate, occasionally fresh, southwest winds.

Wednesday: There'll still be scattered showers on Wednesday, especially further north, but overall there'll be a lot of dry weather for much of the day with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. It'll gradually become cloudier from the southwest, with some rain and drizzle moving into the southwest and west in the evening. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 or 18 degrees in mostly moderate, occasionally fresh, southwest winds, easing mostly light to moderate and backing southerly.

Wednesday night: Cloudy on Wednesday night with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming more widespread. There'll be some hill and coastal mist and fog too. Mild with lowest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in mostly moderate, occasionally fresh, southerly winds.

Thursday: Thursday will be a mostly cloudy day with showers or longer spells of rain at times, some of it heavy, especially further to the west and northwest. There'll be some hill and coastal mist and fog too, especially further south. Highest temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees, south to north, in moderate, occasionally fresh, southerly winds.

Friday: While a few bright or sunny spells are likely, especially in the east, Friday will see a continuation of mostly cloudy conditions with showers or showery outbreaks of rain, some of it on the heavy side, especially in the west and southwest. There'll be some hill and coastal mist and fog too, especially in the south. Highest temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees, in light to moderate southerly winds.

Next weekend: It's likely to become drier and sunnier next weekend and warmer too, with high pressure taking charge.

Saturday: Any mist and fog will clear on Saturday morning, to leave a good deal of dry weather with good bright or sunny spells developing. There'll just be a few well scattered showers around. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees in light to moderate west to north-west or variable breezes.

Sunday: There'll be some mist and fog on Sunday morning too, which will generally clear, though may linger in coastal parts. It'll be a mainly dry warm day with spells of sunshine. Highest temperatures of 19 to 23 degrees generally, a little lower in coastal parts, in mostly light variable breezes.