04 April 2019 04:52

Today - Thursday 4th April

A cold, breezy and mostly cloudy day. Scattered outbreaks of rain, turning heavy and persistent at times, especially across the eastern half of the country. Risk of hail and thunder, with some sleet and possible hill-snow. Feeling raw once again, with highs of only 5 to 9 degrees Celsius, in moderate to fresh and gusty northeasterly winds. Whilst the winds will ease later, misty conditions will set-in.

Tonight - Thursday 4th April

Scattered falls of rain overnight with the ongoing risk of local hail and thunder. Long dry spells occurring too, but rather misty, with a sharp frost where skies stay clear. Cold, with lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees Celsius, coldest across Munster. Breezy up along the east coast, but calm generally elsewhere. Heavy rain will move into eastern counties towards morning.

Tomorrow - Friday 5th April

Outbreaks of rain and local sleet affecting the eastern half of the country early Friday morning, will move into the west into the early afternoon, whilst turning more scattered elsewhere. Eastern counties will likely see some further heavy rain nightfall however. Highs of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, in sometimes brisk easterly breezes.

Outlook

HEADLINE: Cold on Thursday night, then becoming progressively milder. Mainly dry for weekend.

There will be showers on Thursday night, most frequent in the west and north. Clearer spells in the south and east will result in frost with lows of 0 to -3 degrees, slightly higher for Ulster and Connacht with lows of 1 to 4 degrees. Winds will be mostly light variable, except in the north where they will be moderate to fresh easterly, later southeasterly. More persistent rain arriving on the east coast towards dawn.

FRIDAY: A cold start on Friday with outbreaks of showery rain over the east in the early morning. There will be clearer, brighter conditions with isolated showers elsewhere. The rain will become more widespread, moving over the north and west as the day goes on, with isolated showers elsewhere and bright or sunny spells. Maximum afternoon temperatures reaching 8 to 11 degrees, highest in the west where the best of the drier, brighter weather will be. Further showery rain will then arrive on the east coast early on Friday night and will push westwards to affect most areas over the course of Friday night. Lows of 1 to 6 degrees. Winds will be mainly light easterly or northeasterly, at times fresher on exposed coasts.

SATURDAY: The day will start with some rain over Munster, dry and bright elsewhere but overall Saturday will be a drier, brighter and milder day for most of the country. The rain looks to die out as the day progresses with sunny spells developing. Mild with highs of 10 to 14 degrees, highest in the west while the moderate easterly wind will keep it cooler on the east coast.

SUNDAY: A mostly dry and bright day with sunny spells. There will be a risk of one or two showers affecting the east and south coasts. Winds will be mostly moderate easterly but will be fresher at times on exposed coasts. Temperatures around normal with highs of 12 to 14 degrees, highest in the west and again, the easterly breeze will keep it cooler along the east coast.

The easterly flow looks set to continue into the early days of next week bringing a mix of dry bright weather and showers. The showers will be most prevalent over eastern counties. Monday looks to be the mildest day with highs of 13 to 16 degrees, winds will become fresher on Tuesday bringing temperatures back to between 11 and 14 degrees.