Forecast issued at: Sunday 28th April 2024 13:00
Rain
There has been a much-welcomed drier spell of weather over Ireland for the past week with below average rainfall nationwide, ranging from 6% and 82% of average. Most places received less than 5mm across the seven days, with the driest conditions at Dublin Airport where just 0.8mm was recorded. It was wettest in the southeast with 13.2mm recorded at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. It will turn more unsettled in the next seven days with showers or longer spells of rain most days. Rainfall will be just above average for most of the country, largely ranging between 15mm and 40mm, with the wettest conditions expected in the west of the country.
Temperatures
The last week has generally been cooler than normal, with mean air temperatures ranging from 6.7 degrees in the east to 10.1 degrees in the west, which is between 2.4 degrees below average and 0.2 degrees above average. Mean soil temperatures are widely between 1 and 3 degrees higher than normal, ranging between 10.4 degrees in the east and 12.2 degrees in the southwest. In the week ahead, the eastern half of the country will be 1 or 2 degrees warmer than normal while temperatures over the rest of the country will be around normal or a degree below. The coolest conditions will be early in the week, with temperatures gradually increasing as the week progresses. Soil temperatures will remain above normal.
Sunshine
It has been brighter than normal over the last seven days, with sunshine amounts between 112% and 160% of average. It was brightest along western coasts with 59.9 hours of sunshine recorded at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare while it was slightly dull in the north with 38.1 hours of sunshine recorded at Malin Head, Co. Donegal. More unsettled conditions in the coming week will bring greater cloud cover. Sunshine amounts will likely be near average or slightly below for many areas.
Drying Conditions
More persistent rain early this week will lead to poor drying conditions overall. Drying will improve at times between showers from Wednesday onwards.
Spraying
Spraying opportunities will be limited at first this week with more frequent rainfall and breezy conditions. There may be opportunities for spraying at times from Wednesday onwards as drier intervals develop between showers.
Field Conditions
All soils are dry at the moment, with good trafficability nationwide. Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) largely range from 5mm in the north midlands to 25mm in the south. With increased rainfall in the coming seven days, soil conditions will deteriorate slightly, particularly early in the week with a gradual improvement again towards the weekend. Though SMDs will decrease, most soils will remain trafficable. However, poorly trained soils in the northwest will become saturated or waterlogged.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
