Farmers warned of wet week ahead

Farmers across Ireland are facing a challenging week as Met Éireann forecasts unsettled conditions with rainfall expected to be significantly above average.

Accumulations could reach between 191% and 376% of normal levels, with the northwest likely to see the highest totals of up to 114mm.

Mean soil temperatures are currently above average by 2.9 to 4 degrees, ranging from 16.5 to 19.3 degrees. Sunshine will vary across the country, with eastern regions seeing the most bright spells, while showers and longer periods of rain are expected elsewhere.

Drying conditions will generally be poor, limiting opportunities for spraying over the next seven days. Farmers in the south and southeast currently have the driest soils, with soil moisture deficits of up to 73mm, which may restrict grass growth. In contrast, soils in the west and southwest are saturated or even waterlogged, with deficits at or below zero. These conditions are expected to worsen with the forecast rainfall, leaving most soils saturated or waterlogged apart from the southeast and east.

Met Éireann has also issued a potato blight advisory from Thursday afternoon until Friday evening. Conditions favourable to the spread of blight are expected across the west and north, and farmers are being urged to monitor their crops closely. Forecast maps and detailed meteograms are available on the Met Éireann website.