Weekend weather: rain or drizzle at times with cooler temperatures

Met Éireann has said that Friday will be wet and windy across much of the country, with widespread rain and fresh to strong northeasterly winds, particularly gusty along eastern-facing coasts.

The rain will be heavy at times, particularly in the south and east, with flooding expected in places.

It will be driest in Ulster and north Connacht, with some brighter spells possible. Highest temperatures of 8°C to 12°C.

Friday night will be dry, with clear spells in Ulster and north Connacht, but cloudy and wet across other areas.

Saturday

Northern areas are likely to see the driest and brightest weather on Saturday, with cloud and patchy rain or drizzle across the rest of the country, although this will become more isolated later.

It is set to be rather windy at first, with fresh to strong northeasterly winds, but these will ease. Highest temperatures of 7°C to 11°C.

It will stay cloudy, with isolated light rain or drizzle across the southern half of the country on Saturday night, but dry with clear spells further north.

Sunday

Sunday will be mainly dry, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 7°C to 11°C, with light to moderate northerly winds.

Sunday night will be mostly dry, with clear spells, although cloud will increase in the north and west at times, bringing a few light showers.

Cold, with lowest temperatures of 0°C to 5°C, in a light west to northwest wind.

Beef management

This week, Martin Merrick discusses the benefits of front-loading feed to weanlings, what's coming up at this year's beef conference, as well as looking at your profits and tax liabilities.

Sheep management

In this week's sheep management, Darren Carty talks about how breeding should be progressing, the use of genotyped rams and managing the current weather.

Dairy management

This week in the dairy management notes, Aidan Brennan says that farmers need to be careful not to fall into a higher nitrates band, given that cows are milking well.

Tillage management

Siobhan Walsh says that there are loads of winter jobs to be done this week, from walking the fields to putting antifreeze in the sprayer.