Monday

There will be widespread showers with some risk of hail and even thunder in parts of the country, according to Met Éireann.

Showers are expected to become lighter overnight, with temperatures between 6°C and 9°C.

Tuesday

There will be some sunny spells but there will be heavy showers in the south and west of the country, with risk of hail again.

Highest temperatures will range from 12°C to 16°C with showers expected to persist overnight.

Wednesday

Scattered showers are expected to develop over the south and east of the country, with the risk that they will become heavy and turn into hail.

Temperatures will range from12°C to 15°C in light breezes.

Thursday and Friday

Met Éireann is predicting an unsettled end to the week, with more spells of rain and slightly below average temperatures.

Farming forecast

Rain

Rainfall was mostly above average over the country for the past week, according to Met Éireann: “It was wettest over the north of Ulster, with nearly twice the average rain falling at Malin Head, equating to 30.9mm.

“With a very showery setup expected for the coming week giving some heavy thundery downpours, rainfall totals will be generally above normal in most places.

“Some parts of Leinster, though, may record less than normal rain due to the hit and miss nature of showers.”

Temperatures

Farmers will have noticed that grass and crop growth has been slow in places and the unseasonably late frosts have had an impact on average soil temperatures.

Temperatures are expected to be average or just below average for the coming week.

Field conditions

It has been a tale of two halves in terms of soil moisture deficit levels, with the north and south of the country split in two.

Met Éireann said: “Soil moisture deficits are near saturated in the far northwest, however deficits exist in most areas.

“SMDs of 20mm to 40mm in the southern half of the country have led to some growth restrictions here. However, soil moisture deficits will decrease in the week ahead and growth should improve.”

It’s likely that the incoming spell of wet weather will have a negative impact on already waterlogged soils in the northwest of the country.