Forecast issued at: Thursday 12th December 2024 15:00
Rain
Rainfall amounts over the past seven days were varied throughout the country, ranging from 55% to 156% of the average. It was driest in the south and wettest in the northwest. The highest accumulation over the last 7 days was at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo with 49.6mm recorded. The lowest accumulation was at Roches Point, Co. Cork with 15mm recorded. High pressure is expected to dominate our weather until around next Tuesday and then a transition to low pressure will take place. As a result, it will be predominately dry over the coming days with just patchy rain and drizzle but more significant rainfall may occur around midweek next week. Rainfall totals are currently predicted to range from 90 to 130% of normal over the coming 7 days.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures have been near or below average over the past week, ranging from 4.3 degrees in parts of the midlands and northwest to 7 degrees at Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry. Although it is rather cool at the moment, conditions are expected to become milder and breezier from Saturday night onwards. Mean air temperatures are expected to range between 7 and 11 degrees over the coming week, which is 2 to 4 degrees above average for this time of year. Mean soil temperatures have been within a degree or so of average over the last seven days, ranging from 5.1 to 8.2 degrees, or between 0.8 degrees below and 1.2 degrees above average. Mean soil temperatures will likely increase over the next seven days overall, although frosty conditions are possible in the near term over the next couple of nights.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts over the past week were below average in the east and north and above average in the west and southwest. Malin Head, Co. Donegal recorded the dullest conditions with just 2.1 hours of sunshine recorded (23% of average). It was sunniest in the southwest with 17.1 hours of sunshine recorded at Valentia Observatory in Co. Kerry (172% of average). Sunshine amounts will be variable over the coming week but may end up below average overall.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be mostly moderate or poor with patchy rain and drizzle and light winds predicted in the near term and unsettled conditions further out.
Spraying
Opportunities for spraying will be moderate at times in the near term outside of patchy rain and drizzle due to the light winds. Opportunities will deteriorate from around Sunday as winds are expected to increase.
Field Conditions
All soils are currently saturated and all poorly drained soils between saturated and waterlogged. Soils will improve slightly until Tuesday due to limited rainfall amounts but they are expected to deteriorate after that.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
