Farmers are bracing for a challenging week as Met Éireann forecasts a sharp increase in rainfall across the country, with the heaviest accumulations expected in the west and southwest.

While Friday and early Saturday may offer brief dry spells, unsettled conditions are set to return by Saturday afternoon.

Drying opportunities will be limited, and spray windows are expected to shrink significantly over the weekend due to persistent rain and strengthening winds.

According to Met Éireann’s latest farming commentary, poorly drained soils remain saturated. Soil moisture deficits for other land types currently range from 5mm to 10mm, but wetter weather is likely to push many areas toward waterlogging. Moderately and poorly drained soils are particularly at risk.

Cloud cover is expected to dominate the coming week, keeping sunshine levels below seasonal norms. Daytime temperatures will hover between 11 and 14 degrees, with a possible dip later in the week.