Sunny start to the week but weather set to take a turn

AFTER a cold night with frost and ice in some places, Ireland will enjoy a mainly dry day today, with some pleasant sunny spells around the country.

But it might be a good idea to make the most of the sunshine, as the week ahead is set to be very unsettled, with rain and even hail on the horizon in some parts.

It will be cold early on but turning milder during the week.

Met Éireann has forecast some showers this morning in the west with a band of heavy or prolonged showers spreading eastwards – some heavy or of hail – throughout the afternoon and evening.

Highest temperatures will be between five and eight degrees, with moderate southwest winds increasing in strength over the afternoon.

It will be cold overnight with clear spells and isolated showers. Towards dawn, cloud will thicken in the south and rain will move in across Munster.

Temperatures will drop to between minus one and minus three degrees, with patchy frost and ice early on.

Tomorrow is expected to be cloudy and breezy with rain nationwide, turning heavy in places.

Maximum afternoon temperatures will reach eight degrees in northern areas and 12C in the south, with fresh and gusty south to southeast winds.

It will be wet and breezy tomorrow night with outbreaks of rain, and lowest temperatures of seven degrees.

It looks set to be mild and breezy on Wednesday with rain in the north clearing to leave a mix of sunshine and showers, with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees, along with fresh and gusty southwesterly winds.

Cloudy and wet weather is expected to return on Thursday, with more rain along with spots of mist and drizzle. But it will be mild enough with highest temperatures of 10 to 13C in fresh easterly winds.

Friday will be a cloudy day with showers or longer spells of rain, in similar temperatures and a fresh easterly breeze.