Forecast issued at: Sunday 16th March 2025 13:00
Rain
Over the last seven days, rainfall amounts were well below normal nationwide. The highest accumulation of 3.2mm was at Belmullet, Co Mayo which is 14% of average. It was driest at Roches Point, County Cork, where 0mm was recorded. With high pressure remaining in charge for the coming days, there will be low amounts of rainfall until (at least) Friday. On Friday and Saturday a gradual transition to more unsettled weather will occur. Rainfall amounts will increase closer to average, especially across southern parts of the country.
Temperatures
Over the past week, air temperatures were near or above average across western and southwestern parts of the country but below average elsewhere. Mean values ranged from 5 degrees Celsius in Dublin to 8.4 degrees Celsius at Valentia Observatory. Soil temperatures were generally 1 to 3 degrees above normal ranging from 6.7 to 8.7 degrees Celsius. Temperatures will be a little on the cool side of average to begin this week but milder conditions are expected to develop from midweek onwards. As a result, averaged over the next seven days, air temperatures will range from near normal to 1 or 2 degrees above normal in some parts of the country. Soil temperatures will remain above normal.
Sunshine
The past week has been sunny and sunshine amounts were above normal nationwide. The lengthiest sunshine was at Shannon Airport (48.1 hours) which is over twice the norm. With high pressure dominating for much of this week, sunshine amounts are likely to stay near or above normal.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will initially be moderate because despite there being plenty of dry weather, temperatures will be on the cool side and winds will be light to moderate. However, temperatures will increase from midweek so there will be better drying conditions then.
Spraying
There will be some good opportunities for spraying over the coming days as high pressure dominates the weather scene keeping the weather mainly dry and the winds mainly light to moderate.
Field Conditions
Most soils have soil moisture deficits (SMDs) of +5 to +15mm, although poorly drained soils have SMDs of -1 to +9mm. With plenty of dry weather for most of the week, SMDs are likely to increase, but there will be some deterioration on Friday and into the weekend as the weather changes and becomes a little more unsettled. Some poorly drained soils will become saturated and locally waterlogged.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
