Met Éireann said that this week will bring generally unsettled weather with rain or showers on most days.

Today (Monday, March 9), will be mostly cloudy with patchy rain or drizzle, mainly in the western part of the country.

The patches of rain and drizzle will extend eastwards later, with sunny spells following from the west.

Highest daytime temperatures of 8° to 13°C in light, and at times moderate, south-westerly or variable winds.

Tonight will be dry at first, cloud will build later with rain extending from the west. Some patches of mist of fog will form in the light to moderate southerly breezes. Overnight lows of 3° to 7°.

Weather

Tuesday morning will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain, more persistent rain is expected to move in from the west later in the day.

Highest temperatures of 9° to 13° in moderate to fresh south or south-west winds.

The rain will clear eastwards on Tuesday night, followed by mainly clear skies, some showers are possible along Atlantic coasts with a risk of hail in places.

Lowest overnight temperatures of 3° to 6°, some mist or fog will develop as the winds ease.

Wednesday will be mostly dry with sunny spells in the morning, but some scattered showers are expected, mainly in Atlantic coastal counties.

Cloud will develop in the afternoon bringing some isolated showers.

Highest temperatures of 8° to 11° in moderate to fresh south-westerly winds.

It will be cloudy on Wednesday night with showers extending eastwards and becoming more persistent in the north-west.

The south-westerly winds will increase fresh to strong and gusty. Overnight lows of 5° to 8°.

Thursday will be a wet and windy day, with heavy rain in many areas in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 8° to 12°, cooler in the west and north-west.

The fresh to strong and gusty south-westerly winds will ease moderate to fresh as the rain clears later in the day.

Friday will be a cool and breezy day with some ice and frost in parts of the country. Some showers will be of sleet and possibly of snow. Highest temperatures of just 6° to 9° in fresh and gusty westerly winds.

Met Éireann

Met Éireann said that rainfall amounts over the coming week will be between 1.2 and 2 times average for most areas.

However, in southern and south-eastern coasts amounts will be below normal.

Mean air temperatures this week are expected to be within a degree of normal, but it is expected to turn cooler towards the end of the week. Soil temperatures will remain above normal.

Met Éireann said that drying conditions will be moderate or poor in the coming week with spells of rain and showers.

There may be some opportunities for spraying this afternoon and evening away from the drizzle. Spraying opportunities will be limited thereafter due to spells of rain and breezy conditions.

It is expected that there will be a deterioration in soil conditions over the coming week due to more frequent rainfall.

Well and moderately drained soils will become saturated while most poorly drained soils will become waterlogged.