Forecast issued at: Wednesday 02nd April 2025 13:00
Rain
The past seven days have been drier or significantly drier than normal for the time of year right across the country. Rainfall amounts ranged from just 1.4mm at Oak Park, Co. Carlow (10% of its average) to 13.8mm at Malin Head, Co. Donegal (69% of its average). With high pressure in charge, this coming week will be mostly dry. There'll just be a little showery rain, mainly later Thursday and into Friday which will give between 1mm and 5mm in places, highest across the south and southeast. The rain isn't likely to reach northern areas.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures over the past week were above normal throughout the country, with values coming in at between 1.7 and 2.7 degrees above average. Mean air temperatures ranged from 9.1 degrees in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath to 11.2 degrees in Shannon Airport, Co. Clare. Mean soil temperatures over the past week were significantly above normal, ranging from 8.2 to 10.8 degrees, which is between 2.7 and 4.1 degrees higher than normal. Daytime temperatures this coming week will come in well above average in most areas, but will be offset by chilly nights. Overall, mean air temperatures will still be a little higher than average generally, ranging from 0 to 2 degrees above normal. Mean soil temperatures won't change too much.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts over the past week came in from around average in the west up to one and a half times of normal in the east and southeast. A total of 28.3 hours of sunshine was recorded in Belmullet, Co. Mayo, which equates to 101% of normal and this was where the lowest amount of sunshine was recorded. The highest amount of sunshine was recorded at Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin, with a total of 42.4 hours there, which equates to 150% of normal. There will be plenty of sunshine for most days of the coming week, with above well average sunshine amounts expected.
Drying Conditions
Apart from later Thursday and a time on Friday, drying conditions will be good this week.
Spraying
Spraying conditions will often be good, though will be limited at times due to a brisk easterly breeze, mainly over the next few days. Winds will be lighter from later in the weekend and into early next week so spraying conditions will be good from then. Spraying conditions will be limited too later Thursday and into Friday due to some showery rain, which will be moving northwards.
Field Conditions
In poorly drained soils, SMDs range between -2mm in parts of the northwest and northwest, to 26mm in the east. With mostly dry conditions over the coming week, SMDs are likely to increase by between 5mm and 15mm generally, with some further restriction to growth in most well drained soils and in other soils too in the east.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
