Dry and breezy to begin but drizzle and rain later

Weather update from Met Éireann

Showery rain on Saturday, mainly confined to the southwest counties on Sunday. Pleasantly mild in sunshine, before tuning a lot cooler into next week. So says the latest summary from the national weather forecaster.

Dry across most areas to begin today but generally cloudy or misty with some drizzle for northwest fringes. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will push in across the western half of the country into the afternoon, very gradually arriving into other areas later this evening, though turning scattered. A breezy day with moderate to fresh southerly winds. Mild and humid too with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees.

Scattered or patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle will affect southern and eastern counties tonight with lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees. Dry but colder elsewhere under broken cloud with lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees. Areas of mist and fog will develop as winds become light and variable.

Some bright or sunny spells across northwest areas at first on Friday morning. Overall cloudy or dull though with mist and fog, along with patchy drizzle. Showery rain will gradually move up from the south with some heavier bursts later. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in mostly moderate east to southeast breezes.

A band of thundery rain will track northwestwards early Friday night, followed drier and clearer weather. Towards morning, another band of rain will begin to move up from the south. Relatively mild and humid with lowest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees in moderate southeast wind.

Saturday will be wet and breezy starting out. However, the band rain will clears away northwestwards. Dry for a time into the afternoon, outside of the odd heavy showers. Once again though, another band of rain will arrive into southern areas later in the evening. Very mild for the time of year with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees, best in the West. East to southeast winds will be mostly moderate in strength.

Sunday is expected dry across most areas with mild spells of spring sunshine and just light to moderate east to northeast winds. Showery rain may affect southwest areas for a time early on though. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees, best values away from eastern counties.

A little cooler and breezier on Monday but with generally dry with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 8 to 13 degrees in a rather brisk northeast wind - mildest across southwest counties.

Further outlook: Overall dry but cool by day and cold by night with a return to frost and icy conditions.