Ireland has experienced a notably dry and sun-deprived week, according to the latest figures from Met Éireann. Rainfall totals across the country were well below average, with some areas receiving barely a trace of precipitation.

Malin Head in County Donegal recorded the highest rainfall accumulation at just 3.9 millimetres, which is only 13 percent of the average for this time of year. Conditions were even drier in the southeast, where Johnstown Castle in County Wexford saw a mere 0.2 millimetres of rain, amounting to just 1 percent of the norm.

The forecast suggests that the dry spell will continue through much of the coming week. While conditions may become more unsettled by the weekend, rainfall amounts are expected to remain below normal across the country.

Temperatures have remained mild, with air temperatures ranging from 10.6 to 12.6 degrees Celsius over the past week. Soil temperatures have been slightly higher, between 11.7 and 13.7 degrees. This trend is set to continue, with mean air temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees forecast, generally one or two degrees above average.

Sunshine levels have been particularly low. Malin Head recorded just 1.1 hours of sunshine over the past seven days, which is only 5 percent of the usual amount. Johnstown Castle, despite its dry conditions, saw the highest sunshine total at 14.6 hours. The outlook remains gloomy, with dull conditions expected to persist and sunshine amounts likely to stay below normal.

Rainfall will return this weekend.