Met Éireann are forecasting largely dry conditions for the rest of the day. There will be some rain and drizzle across many parts of Ulster and Connacht, where they will be more broken and patchy. Highest temperatures for temperatures this afternoon of 11 to 14 degrees as some sunny spells develop further to the south and west, and winds will continue mainly moderate southerly.

Mostly dry tonight although there'll be further patches of rain or drizzle along western and northern coasts hill and coastal fog too. Lowest temperatures 6 to 8 degrees, in mostly light to moderate southerly breezes.

Very similar conditions for Saturday, with sunny spells and some patchy rain and drizzle along western and northern coasts but mainly dry elsewhere. Quite mild, in mostly light to moderate southerly winds, fresh along Atlantic coasts.

Sunday will start off quite dull and misty but will brighten up with dry conditions again. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 Celsius, in a light to moderate south to southeast breeze. Sunday night will be quite cold with a risk of a slight grass frost as well as mist and fog patches also.

Outlook for next week

Looking ahead to next week, it will be mainly dry and settled conditions, though temperatures falling back slightly after midweek.

The first half of the week will be dry with good sunny intervals and light to moderate winds, southeasterly on Monday, backing easterly by Tuesday. Mild by day with highest temperatures of 10 to 14 Celsius, coolest along southern and eastern coasts. The nights will be cold and there may be frost where breaks in the cloud persist, as well as a fog risk.

For St Patrick’s Day next Thursday, there are early indications that it will be a dry day, with bright or sunny spells and light to moderate southeasterly breezes. Temperatures a little but cooler with maximum of 9 to 11 Celsius.

For Friday and next weekend, the further outlook remains dry, settled conditions, with just a small chance of a few spots of light rain or drizzle.

Management notes

For the tillage notes, Andy Doyle writes that now the weather is slightly improving, serious consideration must be given to where to plant, or not.

In the beef management, Nathan Tuffy offers his advice on buying a stock bull, nitrates derogations and applying fertiliser.

Aidan Brennan covers milk protein percentages, dehorning in focus and the long-range weather forecast in the dairy notes.

Drafting early born lambs for the Easter trade, microchipping dogs, liver fluke control and orf vaccination are on the agenda in the sheep management notes, by Darren Carty.