Forecast issued at: Saturday 27th April 2024 13:00
Rain
There has been a much-welcomed drier spell of weather over Ireland for the past week with less than 5 mm of rainfall recorded in many areas for the week. It has been a slightly less dry across the southeast and southwest however with just over 9mm recorded. The coming week will be more unsettled and rainfall amounts will be higher. There will be some showers over the weekend and more persistent rain at times from Monday onwards. Rainfall totals over the next 7 days will range from less than 20 mm in the east and north to nearly 50 mm in the west and northwest. This equates to average or slightly above average in the east to over 280% of average in the northwest.
Temperatures
For the past seven days, mean air temperatures ranged from 6.9 to 10.5 degrees across Ireland, coldest in the east and warmest in the west. Temperatures were below average in north Ulster and parts of east Leinster by between 1 and 2 degrees. For the rest of the country, mean temperatures were average or slightly above average by between 0.2 and 0.8 degrees. Soil temperatures have been well above average ranging from 10.3 to 12.5 degrees, which is between 0.9 and 3.6 degrees above average. This weekend will continue cool by day with air and grass frosts in places at night. It will become milder from Monday onwards. So, overall mean air temperatures for the coming week will be average or slightly below average in the west and southwest ranging between 8 and 10 degrees. Soil temperatures will continue above average.
Sunshine
For the past week, sunshine amounts have been well above average, ranging from 124% of average in the east, with 48 hours of sunshine recorded at Dublin Airport, to 164% of average in the west, with 61.1 hours of sunshine recorded at Shannon Airport. The next 7 days will likely bring near average sunshine amounts as the settled spell of weather gives way to more unsettled cloudier conditions from Monday onwards.
Drying Conditions
There will be some moderate drying periods over the weekend, but some showers also. Drying conditions will be poor from early next week due to more persistent rain at times.
Spraying
With light to moderate mainly northerly breezes, there will be some decent opportunities for spraying over the weekend although there will be some showers. Spraying conditions will be more limited from Monday on with rain or showers expected on most days of next week.
Field Conditions
The mainly dry weather over the past week has improved soil trafficability significantly. Soil moisture deficits currently range from 14 mm in the north to over 20 mm in parts of the south. Soil trafficability will continue to improve over the weekend. However, it will deteriorate as we head through next week.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
