Monday

After a dry start in the east, Met Éireann forecasts that wet and cloudy conditions in the west and south will spread across the country through the morning and afternoon. The rain will turn heavy and persistent in Connacht and west Munster at night with a risk of spot flooding.

Top temperatures will range between 9°C and 12°C. Moderate to fresh and gusty southerly winds will increase strong in most areas through the afternoon with gales developing near Atlantic coasts.

Tuesday

Widespread heavy rain will gradually give way to clearer, brighter and more showery conditions extending from the west. Some showers will be heavy and with a risk of hail and thunder near the coasts. Afternoon high temperatures will fall to around 7°C to 9°C.

Strong to gale force and gusty southerly winds over the eastern half of the country will gradually abate through the morning, veering moderate westerly with the clearance of the rain. Night-time temperatures will drop to lows of 3°C to 7°C, with patchy frost possible in the east and north.

Wednesday

A mix of bright spells and scattered blustery showers, heaviest in Atlantic coastal counties, with a risk of hail and thunder there, will continue all day and into the night. Temperatures will be similar to Tuesday's in mostly moderate south to southwest winds, but strong and gusty near western and southern coasts.

Thursday

Another day of sunshine and showers will see the risk of hail and thunder gradually diminishing. Highs of 7°C to 10°C will remain associated with fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest winds, veering westerly in the afternoon and moderate.

Friday and weekend

Current indications for Friday suggest another spell of rain may coming from the southwest followed by showery conditions over the weekend with low pressure situated to the northwest.

Farming forecast

Rain

Rainfall has been above normal since the start of the month, especially in the southern half of the country, and this will continue this week with 40mm to 80mm forecast in the west, and 30mm elsewhere.

Drying conditions are set to remain poor and already saturated or water-logged soils are at risk of flooding from the rain forecast this week.

Temperatures

Air and soil temperatures are expected to remain 1°C or 2°C above normal, as last week, with only patchy frost at times.

Sunshine

The southeast has enjoyed close to normal sunshine values over the past two weeks, but the rest of the country was duller than average. This is expected to continue, with only intermittent sunshine this week.

Spraying

The unsettled weather will offer only limited spraying opportunities this week.

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Letter: a weather survey request