TRENDS remain similar, somewhat colder than average, rather light
rainfall at first becoming closer to normal amounts by late in this
interval, and sunshine probably running a bit below normal with
considerable cloud even when high pressure gets nearby.
FORECASTS
TODAY will be mostly cloudy, the best chance of sunny breaks is probably
around Limerick, Clare and south Galway, with areas of cloud streaming
in from the east both south and north of the Dublin region which may
remain under low cloud and fog for a while. Some of these clouds will
contain light showers of rain that could give 1-3 mm totals to a few
spots in the inland southeast and trace drizzle in the inland north.
Rather chilly with highs 8 to 10 C.
TONIGHT will remain overcast for most, with a few breaks, and a slight
northeast breeze may bring in some drizzle or light rain along the east
coast. Lows 3 to 5 C.
THURSDAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, isolated showers,
and moderate northeast breezes at times, with a chilly high of about 7
C.
FRIDAY will be partly cloudy to sunny, better chances for sunshine
inland west and north, morning lows -2 to +2 C and highs 7 to 10 C.
SATURDAY will see a weak frontal trough trying to drop rain but probably
quite hit or miss results, 1-3 mm may fall in some parts of Connacht
and west Munster. It will get slightly milder too, highs near 11 C.
SUNDAY will become overcast with patchy light rain and highs near 12 C.
The OUTLOOK for next week calls for rather breezy to windy conditions at
times, passing showers or intervals of rain with frontal passages, and
temperatures generally not far from 10 C. One disturbance in the parade
wants to take a more southerly track around Thursday 11th and that one
could run into some fairly cold air left over from the previous cold
frontal passage Tuesday, so there could be a brief appearance of mixed
wintry precipitation around then. Later on in mid-March there are faint
signs of warming trends that may take temperatures slightly above
average by St Patrick's Day.
Peter O'Donnell for IWO