The weekend weather forecast indicates a mix of showers and sunny spells for large parts of the country.

Starting with today (Friday, February 27), any lingering rain and drizzle in the south and south-east will soon clear this morning, and it will gradually brighten up with sunny spells and just a few scattered showers.

The showers will become isolated by this evening and highest temperatures of 7° to 11°C in light to moderate north-westerly winds.

Met Éireann has forecast that it will be mainly dry tonight with mostly clear skies leading to a widespread frost and some icy patches.

Lowest temperatures will range from -2° to +2° in a light westerly or variable breeze.

Weekend weather

There will be a sunny and crisp start to tomorrow, Saturday, with frost clearing.

Cloud and showery outbreaks of rain will move into western parts through the morning and slowly extend eastwards through the afternoon and evening.

It will hold dry for much of the day in the east, while a clearance will follow in to the west later.

Highest temperatures of 6° to 10° are expected, with winds increasing moderate to fresh southerly, stronger for a time along the coasts.

Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading from the south-west early on in the night becoming widespread.

Lowest temperatures will range from 3° to 7° in moderate to fresh south-easterly winds, stronger along Atlantic coasts.There will be a wet and rather windy start to meteorological spring on Sunday with outbreaks of rain, turning heavy at times, especially in the south-west and west, with some spot flooding possible.

Highest temperatures will range from 10° to 12° in fresh to strong southerly winds, reaching near gale to gale force in coastal parts of the west and south.On Sunday night the rain will clear eastwards and the winds will ease light to moderate with lowest temperatures of 2° to 6°.

Outlook next week

Monday will bring some bright or sunny spells and a good lot of dry weather in many areas for a time, apart from scattered showers in the west and north-west.

Becoming cloudier from the north-west through the day as a band of showery rain moves south-eastwards.

Highest temperatures will range from 8° to 11° in moderate to fresh south-west winds, starting to veer north-westerly later and easing light to moderate.It will become mostly dry and clear on Monday night as the cloud and rain clears to the south-east.

Lowest temperatures will range from -1° to +3° with some frost and icy patches.Tuesday is likely to be a dry and sunny day with highest temperatures of 9° to 11° in light to moderate southerly winds.

Farming weather

With mixed and often unsettled conditions, drying conditions will generally be poor for much of the coming week.

However, there will be some better drying today (Friday) and at times early next week.

There be some opportunities for spraying on Friday, early Saturday and again on Tuesday.

All poorly drained soils and some moderately drained soils are waterlogged, while all other soils are saturated.

Over the coming week, there will be little change to soil conditions, with just a very slight improvement signalled.