The rain keeps on coming

Farmers and growers are being warned to prepare for another week of poor drying conditions as wet and unsettled weather continues to dominate the national outlook.

After a week that brought significantly above-average rainfall to much of the country, Met Éireann is forecasting more showers and spells of rain in the coming days—conditions that will hinder drying and field work across most areas.

The midlands and parts of north Munster were hit hardest last week, with some regions receiving more than twice the normal rainfall for this time of year. Mullingar topped the charts with a weekly accumulation of 43.8mm. This pattern is set to continue, with this week’s rainfall amounts expected to reach 1.5 to 2 times the seasonal norm across much of Ireland.

The ongoing rain, combined with below-average sunshine and dropping temperatures, is expected to limit drying significantly. While breezy intervals may offer brief drying windows, the frequent wet spells will quickly offset any improvement.

Mean air temperatures are forecast to drop to between 10 and 13 degrees—1 to 3 degrees below what is typical for early June. Soil temperatures, although still slightly above normal, are also expected to fall.

Sunshine figures remain underwhelming. Casement Aerodrome in Co. Dublin recorded the highest total last week with just under 39 hours—still below normal levels. Western areas fared worse, with Knock Airport seeing only 10.3 hours of sunshine, just 33% of the average. With similarly mixed weather on the horizon, sunshine totals are likely to remain suppressed.

The impact on spraying is also notable. Breezy and wet conditions will leave limited opportunities for effective spraying, especially in exposed or poorly-draining fields.

Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) currently range between +20 and +50mm in most areas, but are expected to fall in the week ahead. Soils in the southwest, midlands, and northwest are at risk of becoming saturated or even waterlogged, potentially affecting crop health and delaying field access.