Dry Week Ahead but Ground Conditions Still Holding Back Work

Irish farmers are set to benefit from a rare spell of settled weather this week as high pressure builds over the country, bringing a break from the persistent rain that has dominated the first week of October.

Met Éireann’s latest agricultural weather report shows rainfall totals for the coming seven days are expected to fall well below normal across most of the country. The northwest will see the highest share, though still just 29 per cent of its typical rainfall for the week, while parts of south Leinster may remain almost completely dry.

Mean air temperatures are forecast to remain above average, ranging from 11 to 13 degrees, which is one to three degrees higher than normal for early October. Soil temperatures are also running warm, from 12.3 degrees at Knock Airport to 14.3 degrees at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. That is 1.6 to 2.5 degrees above average, helping to sustain late grass growth where conditions allow.

However, ground quality remains the key concern. Met Éireann notes that “all soils are currently saturated or waterlogged,” with soil moisture deficits ranging from 1mm in well and moderately drained soils to -10mm in poorly drained ground. While lighter, well-drained soils should begin to dry and become trafficable as the week progresses, heavy or poorly drained fields are likely to remain too soft for machinery or livestock.

Drying conditions are expected to be “mainly good” through the week under moderate to fresh winds and largely dry weather, though a brief spell of light rain or drizzle is expected on Tuesday.

Spraying opportunities will be limited in the short term due to breezy conditions but are expected to improve as winds ease and the high pressure system stabilises later in the week.

Sunshine amounts will stay close to or slightly below average as skies remain mostly cloudy, but for many farmers, the return of settled, drier conditions will be a welcome reprieve after one of the wettest starts to October in years.