Clouds and rain to give way to welcome May sunshine
SUNNY skies that brightened many parts of the country yesterday will be swapped for mostly cloudy conditions today.
Met Eireann said it would remain cloudy today with scattered patches of rain continuing across the western half of the country until night. There will be fresh southerly breezes along Atlantic coasts.
Top temperatures today will range from 14C to 17C.
Rain will be persistent and often heavy today and tomorrow in south-western, western and north-western counties.
There will be rain in the eastern half of the country tonight but it is expected to die away during tomorrow morning. It will be mostly dry tomorrow in Leinster, parts of east Munster and in east Ulster.
It will be mainly mild tomorrow in eastern and southeastern areas with a southerly breeze and maximum temperatures of 15C to 18C. It will be cooler further west and in the north west, where temperatures are not expected to rise above 14C in northerly breezes.
The rain will eventually die away in western areas tomorrow night and a few clear spells will develop, though it will remain predominantly cloudy.
Tuesday will be a drier day overall, with mostly light or moderate northerly breezes. Met Eireann forecasters said there would probably be a cloudy start to the day with perhaps a little patchy drizzle, but it will brighten up through the morning with some sunny spells. It will be mild in the south and east with temperatures climbing to between 15C and 19C. In the west and north, it will be cooler where temperatures are not expected to rise above 14C.
In most parts of the country, Wednesday will be dry with a good deal of sunshine, with any morning mist and fog patches clearing quickly. There is the risk of the odd light shower bubbling up during the afternoon.
It will be generally mild, but cooler near some coasts affected by an onshore east to north-east breezes.
Sunny spells are likely on Thursday in many parts, although some showers are expected, especially in southern parts of Ireland. It will continue to be mild, and even warm in some places, but it will be cooler near coasts.