High pressure brings dry and settled weather

The next fortnight will be mostly dry and settled as High Pressure becomes the dominant feature of Ireland’s weather.

Temperatures will be well above the seasonal average for April and rainfall amounts will be significantly below normal for the time of year.

The last appreciable rainfall across Ireland over the next 10 to 14 days will clear on Saturday evening.

Dry conditions can be expected in all places from Sunday with some sunny breaks forming.

While Monday will be generally overcast with just a few short sunny breaks, more widespread sunshine will occur from Tuesday through next week and into the following week.

Daytime temperatures will rise to between 13 and 17°C next week, coolest in east and southeast-facing coastal areas due to prevailing southeast breeze turning easterly after mid-week.

Temperatures may climb even higher in the Midlands, West Munster or Connacht later in the week.

Apart from some well scattered light showers, the week will be dry although there is a risk of scattered showers, some of which may be thundery in nature, pushing up from the south.

High Pressure is likely to be situated near Ireland during the following week resulting in a continuation of the settled weather conditions.

Depending on the positioning of the high, there is a risk of frontal systems encroaching at times.

There is also a weak signal that winds may turn to a northeast or north direction leading to a dip in temperatures as a colder airmass is drawn in over Ireland.

For farmers and landowners, drying conditions will significantly improve from Sunday.

Soil conditions, which are currently poorest in the northwest, will also improve due to the extended period of dry weather.

For gardeners, widespread overnight frosts are unlikely, but temperatures could drop to low single digits in sheltered inland locations in the middle of next week.

The risk of frost increases slightly for the following week.