Forecast issued at: Sunday 12th January 2025 11:00
Rain
Rainfall amounts over the past seven days varied throughout the country. In the south and southeast, rainfall amounts generally ranged between 150% and 250% of normal with Roche's Point, Co. Cork recording the most with 58.1mm. In parts of Ulster and the north midlands, amounts ranged between 50% and 75% of normal with Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan recording the least with 11.7mm. Elsewhere amounts were close to normal, generally between 75% and 125% of the average. The coming week will be much drier than normal for much of the country with most areas expected to get less than half of the average for the time of year with 10mm or less expected widely. Amounts will be higher for some western, southwestern and southern coastal areas with 15 to 25mm possible.
Temperatures
It has been much colder than average over the past week with mean air temperatures generally between 2.5 and 5.5 degrees below normal values. It was coldest in the midlands where mean air temperatures were between 0 and 0.5 degrees for many which is 4 to 5.5 degrees colder than usual. The mildest spot in the country was Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry with a mean air temperature of 4.3 degrees, 3.1 degrees below its average. Mean soil temperatures ranged from 1.7 degrees in the east to 4.6 degrees in the southwest which is between 1.1 and 2.7 degrees below average. Temperatures will continue to increase through today (Sunday) and it will be much milder than the average through the coming week. Mean air temperatures are forecast to be 3 or 4 degrees above the seasonal average and mean soil temperatures will recover.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts over the past week ranged from 7.4 hours at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare (66% of its average) to 18.1 hours at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford (149% of its average). Elsewhere amounts were generally close to or below normal with between 8.3 and 16.1 hours of sunshine. With the coming milder conditions, it will be rather cloudy most days so sunshine amounts are expected to be below normal throughout the country but the best of any sunshine will likely be in the east.
Drying Conditions
Despite the increasing temperatures, drying conditions will often be poor with plenty of dull and humid weather. However, better conditions are expected for Wednesday and possibly Thursday with good sunny spells and mostly dry conditions.
Spraying
The best spraying opportunities will likely be Wednesday with largely dry conditions and no more than moderate winds away from Atlantic coasts.
Field Conditions
All well drained and most moderately drained soils are close to saturation while moderately drained soils in parts of the north and southeast, and all poorly drained soils are either waterlogged or close to it. There will be some marginal improvements over the coming days but potentially deteriorating again towards next weekend.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
