Forecast issued at: Tuesday 21st July 2026 13:00
Rain
There has been little to no rainfall across the country over the past week with accumulations below 1mm at all stations (between 0 and 4% of average). Over the coming seven days, rainfall amounts will remain below normal over the southern half of the country with accumulations of 15 to 97% of average. However, there will be more frequent spells of rain over the northern half of the country, with rainfall amounts above normal there, ranging from 102 to 283% of average.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures were well above average over the past week, with the exception of northern areas where temperatures were close to normal. Temperatures ranged from 15.1 degrees in the coastal north to 19.4 degrees in the mid-west, which is between 0.2 and 4 degrees above average. Mean soil temperatures are also well above normal, ranging from 17.6 degrees in the northwest to 23.5 degrees in the south. This is between 3 and 5.6 degrees above normal. While temperatures will gradually decrease over the the coming week, they will remain above normal for the south and east by 1 or 2 degrees. Temperatures will be closer to normal elsewhere. Soil temperatures will likely remain similar.
Sunshine
It was much sunnier than average nationwide over the past week with sunshine amounts ranging between 176% and 308% of average. It was sunniest in the southeast with 103.3 hours of sunshine recorded at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. Duller in the west - Belmullet, Co. Mayo recorded the lowest amount of sunshine with 54 hours. While settled conditions will continue for the working week, it will be quite cloudy. It will turn more changeable then at the weekend. Sunshine amounts will be below average over the coming seven days as a result.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be good over the coming days due to settled and warm conditions.
Spraying
There will be good opportunities for spraying over the coming days with dry conditions and light to moderate winds.
Field Conditions
There is restriction to growth in all areas at present with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) ranging between 28mm in the north to 87mm in the southeast. Ground is hard across Leinster, Munster and the midlands, with near drought conditions in east Munster and south Leinster. SMDs will remain similar over the coming week, potentially increasing slightly.
Further Comments
A condition orange high fire risk has been issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine until 12 noon on Friday 24th July.Arising from continued high temperature weather patterns a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist. Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period. With soil moisture deficits increasing there is an added risk of underground peat fires on bogs where fires occur and an increased availability of larger fuel types across all land types.
