Forecast issued at: Saturday 04th July 2026 15:00
Rain
During the past week rainfall amounts were generally below normal across many areas, lowest in Munster and Leinster. However, rainfall amounts in parts of Connacht and Ulster were 1 to 2 times above average. The highest accumulation of 38.4mm was recorded at Malin Head, Co. Donegal, which equates to 221% of average. The driest location was at Oak Park, Co. Carlow, where just 5mm has been recorded over the past week (36% of average). With high pressure building from the south, there'll be a lot of dry weather over the next seven days. However, weather fronts will still bring some rain and drizzle at times, with the north and parts of the west getting most of this. Later in the period, high pressure will be more dominant and it'll be dry and mostly sunny in all areas. So overall over the next seven days, it'll be much drier than normal for much of the country, driest in the south and east, with only minimal rainfall amounts. Accumulations will be slightly closer to normal in western and northern parts of Connacht and Ulster, with around 10 to 15mm of rain expected there.
Temperatures
Air temperatures were higher than normal during the past week, ranging 0.5 to 2.2 degrees above normal, west to east. Mean values ranged between 14.2 and 16.8 degrees. During the next seven days, temperatures will be closer to normal in the west, midlands and northwest between a degree or 3 above normal elsewhere. Soil temperatures are well above normal in most places, with mean values ranging 16.1 to 18.6 degrees.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts came in close to or a little above normal for south Leinster. However, it was duller than average in other places. Casement Aerodrome recorded the most sunshine over the past week, with 36.5 hours which is 102% of normal. In contrast, Belmullet recorded the lowest sunshine amount, with just 7.5 hours which is only 22% of its average. A good deal of cloud is forecast over the next few days, before sunshine improves through the second half of the period, so overall sunshine amounts are likely to come in below average, especially for parts of the north and west.
Drying Conditions
Over the weekend and early next week drying conditions will generally be poor due to cloudy conditions and with some rain and drizzle in parts of the north and northwest in particular, while there'll be better drying in parts of the south and east. Conditions will improve generally towards the end of the period.
Spraying
Spraying opportunities will be limited today due to breezier conditions and some rain and drizzle at times further to the north and west. Opportunities will improve again through Sunday away from the north and northwest and will generally improve in all areas through the latter part of the period.
Field Conditions
Most soil types are trafficable at present with the exception of some soils in the northwest. Soil moisture deficits(SMDs) range from around 15 to 50mm over much of Munster and Leinster, driest in the southeast, where there's some restriction to growth. Elsewhere SMDs generally range between 0 and 15mm, though poorly drained soils in the northwest are saturated and close to waterlogged, with deficits of around -10mm. Soils are forecast to remain broadly similar over the coming week, although deficits may increase to 60mm in parts of the southeast.
Further Comments
Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight are expected in Ulster, Connacht and some western coastal parts of Munster from Friday night until Monday afternoon.
