Forecast issued at: Tuesday 21st April 2026 12:00
Rain
Over the past seven days, rainfall amounts were above average for most of the country, with generally between 110% to 27% of normal recorded. However, eastern areas were drier than normal, with Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin recording just 3.4mm, which is only 26% of its average. The highest amount of rainfall was recorded at Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry, where 61.5mm of rainfall was received. With high pressure dominating for much of the coming week, largely dry conditions are expected. A little showery rain is likely in the southwest on Wednesday, with just the chance of a few sharp showers later in the week and to start to weekend, but they'd be the exception. Indeed it's likely that most areas will receive little or no rainfall, while parts of the southwest may see between 5 and 10 mm, which would only equate to around 35% of the seasonal normal.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures over the past week were a little over normal for the time of year, coming in up to a degree or so above average in places, ranging from 8.7 degrees Celsius at Knock/Ireland West Airport, Co. Mayo to 10.5 degrees at Shannon airport, Co. Clare. Mean soil temperatures ranged between 8.5 and 11.2 degrees which is between 1.8 and 3.3 degrees above normal. This coming week will be milder than average, by up to 2 or 3 degrees Celsius, mildest across the midlands and west. Mean soil temperatures will continue above normal.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts during the past week were generally close to or a little above normal. Sunshine hours ranged from 34.6 at Valentia, Co. Kerry, equating to 95% of normal to 52.6 at Casement Aerdrome, Co. Dublin, which equates to 147% of normal. There will be good sunshine over the coming week, so amounts will be above normal.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will generally be moderate or good away from any isolated precipitation over the coming week. Breezy conditions until Thursday will lead to some of the best drying this week and an increase in temperatures later in the week will lead to good drying too.
Spraying
Spraying conditions will be poor on Tuesday and Wednesday and for a time on Thursday, due to breezy weather. Spraying opportunities will improve later in the week and will be mostly good from then, though will possibly reduce at times due to some isolated shower activity.
Field Conditions
Most poorly drained soils are saturated, though poorly drained soils in eastern areas are drier, with SMDs of up to 17mm in the east. Well drained and moderately drained soils are drier, with some light soils trafficable. In eastern areas, soil moisture deficits (SMDs) in well drained and moderately drained soils are up to 20mm. With predominately dry conditions over the coming week, SMDs will increase across all areas and soil types, with trafficability improving significantly, so that all medium soils become trafficable, but with some restriction to growth in well drained soils, especially in the east.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
