Heavy rain marks end of two-week dry spell

Friday marked the final day of a two-week dry spell across Ireland as an Atlantic system brought heavy rain over the island.

The NASA Modis and Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites showed extensive cloud cover away from the northwest when they passed overhead shortly before midday.

Achill Island and Belmullet in Mayo continued to enjoy bright sunshine until the late afternoon when rain approached the northwest.

Southern counties experienced more than one inch of rainfall up to midnight on Friday.

Cork Airport recorded 25.4mm of rain in just 12 hours, representing almost double its total rainfall since the beginning of the month up to Thursday.

8mm of rain fell at Belmullet by the end of Friday.

After midnight, the rain became patchier as it retreated to the western and southwestern counties

A NASA satellite image from Friday night shows clear spells developing over much of Ulster and Leinster.

Following today’s rain, Sunday through Wednesday will bring dry conditions away from the northwest and west coasts where there will be occasional drizzle or light showers at times.

Temperatures will range between 10 C and 14 C during the period.

Atlantic systems will bring showers or periods of light rain for the second half of next week. However, overall rainfall totals are expected to be close or below average for the time of year.

There are signs that high pressure could rebuild toward the end of April and into early May, reintroducing settled conditions across Ireland.