Good dry periods on Monday will be broken up with patchy rain and drizzle.

Rain and drizzle will extend from the southwest to many areas this afternoon and evening. Much of Ulster is forecast to stay dry with some bright or sunny breaks.

There will be highest temperatures of 15°C in the north to 19°C in the south with mostly light westerly breezes.

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, with the northern half of Ulster staying mainly dry. Lowest temperatures will vary between nine to 12°C.

Tuesday

Tuesday will be dull in many areas with rain, which will be heavy at times over the southern half of the country, according to Met Éireann.

Again, the northern half of Ulster will be mainly dry, while the rain will clear slowly southeastwards through the afternoon and evening with brighter weather following.

Highest temperatures on Tuesday will range between 14°C to 18°C with moderate east to northeast winds.

Tuesday night will be dry with clear spells developing.

Wednesday

Wednesday is forecast to be mainly dry and bright with good sunny spells and light variable breezes. There's a chance of one or two light showers.

Highest temperatures will reach 19°C to 22°C. On Wednesday night, cloud will increase in the west, with rain and drizzle developing overnight.

Thursday

Current indications suggest that Thursday will start off dry in the east.

Rain and drizzle in the west will spread eastwards to all areas and then clear in the evening and early night.

Highest temperatures will range between 16°C and 20°C with moderate west to southwest breezes.

Friday

Friday is forecast to be dry in Leinster and Munster with bright or sunny spells.

Connacht and Ulster will start off dry, but rain and drizzle will move in from the west in the afternoon and early evening and will extend to much of the country on Friday night.

Temperatures will reach highs of 22°C in the southeast on Friday, with temperatures reaching 16°C in the northwest.

Farming forecast

Rain

Rainfall in the past 7 days was below normal over much of the country, with much of Munster and Leinster receiving less than 50% of normal rainfall.

Rainfall accumulations were closer to normal further to the northwest, with above normal totals reported in northwest Connacht and west Ulster.

The rainfall amounts for the week ahead are likely to be below normal for the time of year over most of the country but normal or above along parts of the west and north coasts.

Temperatures

Temperatures over the week ahead are expected to be slightly below average in the north and west and slightly above normal over southern and southeastern areas.

Sunshine

Sunshine amounts for the coming week are expected to be around normal, possibly above in parts of the east.

Drying conditions

Drying conditions will be good at times this week, but there will be periods of poorer drying as well due to lack of wind and some rain.

Spraying

There will be good opportunities for spraying over the next few days due to light winds, but rain or showers will hamper spraying operations at times as well.

Field conditions

Soil moisture deficits are close to zero in the northwest and north due to recent rainfall. However, over the southern half of the country soil moisture deficits are around 30mm which may impact on growth.

The coming week will see little change in the soil moisture deficit in many areas and the deficit could increase in southern parts.