Met Éireann has issued a status yellow rainfall warning for counties Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo until Sunday 9am. Periods of heavy rain are expected at times through Friday and Saturday, with rainfall accumulations of 50mm to 80mm between Friday and Saturday. Highest rainfall will be on high.

St Patrick’s Day is generally forecast to be cool, blustery and mainly cloudy. Southwestern winds will be strongest along the Atlantic coast. Persistent rain will concern Connacht, Ulster and parts of west Munster, while the eastern half of the country will be drier with intermittent rain. Met Éireann is forecasting some hill and coastal fog in high temperatures of 9°C to 12°C.

Winds will abate at night, but continuing rain is expected to lead to spot flooding in the northwest. Lowest temperatures will be between.

Saturday

No change on Saturday, though the heavy rain will become confined to Ulster in the afternoon as drizzle and mist extend elsewhere. Top temperatures are forecast to range between 11°C and 14°C as winds pick up in the evening. Temperatures will again be between 7°C and 10°C at night

Sunday

Morning heavy rains are forecast to ease off and become more scattered during the day, as will gusty winds. Temperature highs should be between 11°C and 13°C. Another band of rain is expected in the evening, followed by scattered showers at night as temperatures drop to between 4°C and 7°C.

Management notes

The recent dry spell has improved field conditions and tillage farmers should aim between showers to get some field work done, whether tending to winter crops or progressing spring planting.

The dip in temperatures highlights the need for fertiliser application on sheep farms. It also heightens the risk of grass tetany.

Meanwhile, beef farmers have accumulated large slurry stocks and Adam Woods has advice on how to make the best use of this resource, as well as lime and fertiliser.

Late calving suckler cows still have a period of housing ahead of them and checking their body condition score is a good way of making sure that they will be in good shape for calving, despite the prolonged lack of exercise. Watch the video here.

Dairy specialist Aidan Brennan has nutrition advice too for the crucial turning out period. He also looks at the management of young stock, including alternative calf rearing arrangements.