Lengthy dry spell to end this weekend

The prolonged dry spell of weather will come to an end this coming weekend as showers and longer spells of rain at times cross the country.

High pressure located close to Ireland has brought exceptionally dry conditions to Ireland over the past 10 days with southern counties remaining dry for the period.

The highest rainfall total recorded in Ireland in the past week was in Belmullet, Co. Mayo, which saw 3.3mm or 15% of its seasonal average.

While Thursday will be dry and warm with temperatures reaching 17c or 18c in the west, a change is on the way during Friday with heavy showers becoming widespread as the day progresses.

It will remain mild on Friday with temperatures ranging from 12c to 15c, highest once again in the west.

Further showers will affect the country during Saturday and could merge to give longer spells of rain in some places.

Sunday looks like being a drier day with indications that high pressure to the south of Ireland could nudge north as next week progresses, thereby reintroducing drier conditions.

Over 30 hours of sunshine were recorded at all 25 Met Éireann stations this week.

Johnstown Castle (42.7 hours) in County Wexford recorded the most sunshine in the seven days up to and including Tuesday.

Rainfall totals over the next seven days will be highest in Munster, the Midlands and south Connacht with accumulations of 30-35mm here.

It will be driest in the northeast with totals of 10mm expected.

Sunshine totals will be around average with widespread sunshine on Wednesday and Thursday being cancelled out by overcast conditions from Friday through the weekend.

With conditions turning milder, mean air temperatures for the next week are likely to finish 2-3c above average for the time of year.