Met Éireann has predicted an unsettled start to the week.

Monday

There will be a dry start in all areas, with sunshine in the eastern half of the country. Patchy rain and drizzle will follow, reaching the midlands by evening blowing in from the west.

The east will remain dry, with highest temperatures of 16°C to 18°C. There will be moderate southerly winds, fresh on the western coasts.

Tuesday

Tuesday will be a cloudy day, with patchy rain and drizzle. A clearer day will emerge later in the afternoon, with highs of 17°C to 20°C. Heavy rain will cross the country on Tuesday night.

Wednesday

There will be a wet and breezy start on Wednesday, with rain clearing eastwards through the afternoon. Top temperatures will range from 18°C to 21°C. Winds will be strong along coasts.

Thursday

Thursday will bring showers with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Showers will be most frequent in the west. Highest temperatures will range from 17°C to 20°C.

Friday

Dry and settled weather with sunny spells is forecast for Friday moving into the weekend. Highs will range from 16°C to 18°C, in line with average temperatures for early September.

Farming forecast

Rain

Rainfall levels over the past week were above average in all areas, with many places seeing more than twice or three times their average accumulations for the time of year. The coming seven days will be drier than the previous seven.

Temperatures

Air temperatures will increase over the next few days to around average for the time of year. Mean soil temperatures are likely to be close to average for the coming week.

Sunshine

Sunshine totals were well below average in all areas for the past seven days. Mixed weather is forecast over the coming week, so sunshine totals are likely to be around average.

Spraying

Conditions for spraying will be good on Monday and Tuesday, apart from in western coastal counties where rain is forecast during the afternoon.

Field conditions

With rainfall amounts for the coming week forecast to be around average for the time of year, only a slight improvement in field conditions is to be expected.