Inky waters of the Erne guarded by a moody sky. Photo Maureen Tully

Patchy light rain and drizzle, turning cold tomorrow night

Mostly cloudy today, Monday, with patchy light rain and drizzle. The best of the limited sunny spells will be in the east and southeast. Relatively mild for the time of year with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh and occasionally gusty southwest breezes.

Mostly cloudy but mainly dry tonight with just a few patches of light rain or drizzle. Some limited clearer intervals occurring too. Lows of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius in light to moderate southwest breezes, fresh to strong near western and northwestern coasts.

Some brief sunny spells tomorrow, Tuesday, but generally cloudy again with occasional drizzle. More persistent rain will develop in the west during the afternoon, and this rain will track eastwards over the country through the evening and early night. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate south to southwest winds.

Turning colder from Tuesday evening, with the risk of night-time frosts returning.

Wet and breezy early on Tuesday night with outbreaks of rain clearing eastwards over the country, giving way to cooler fresher conditions from the west, with clear spells and scattered showers. The showers will become frequent in western areas towards dawn, turning heavy with hail and a risk of isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures will fall to between 0 and 4 degrees after the rain clears with the potential for some frost and icy patches in sheltered spots. Winds will veer light to moderate west to northwest with the passage of the rain.

Wednesday will be a noticeably colder day with sunshine and widespread blustery showers. Some of the showers will be heavy with hail and a risk of isolated thunderstorms, and a few may turn wintry over hills and mountains, especially towards evening. Afternoon temperatures will range 6 to 9 degrees but it will feel colder in the brisk northwest wind. The showers will become increasingly confined to western and northwestern coasts on Wednesday night and much of the country will be dry, clear and cold. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with frost and icy patches forming. Northwest winds will continue moderate to fresh near some coasts but will fall mainly light inland.

Many areas dry with some sunshine to begin on Thursday, but cloud will tend to increase from the northwest during the morning bringing patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Afternoon temperatures will range 7 to 9 degrees with light to moderate northwest breezes. Scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle look likely to feed down from the north on Thursday night. Lows of 3 to 7 degrees in a freshening northwest wind, increasing strong on exposed coasts.

Current indications for Friday suggest a breezy day with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highs of 8 to 11 degrees but feeling cooler in moderate to fresh north to northwest winds.

Although there is some uncertainty at this stage, high pressure looks set to dominate next weekend bringing broadly dry and settled conditions. Maximum temperatures around 7 to 9 degrees with frosty nights.