-- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg above normal, starting out 5-6 above today and slowly drifting down towards the other extreme by Monday 5th.
-- Rainfalls will average 10 to 20 per cent of normal except possibly in Donegal and nearby, 30 per cent there.
-- Sunshine will average 25 to 50 per cent above normal. Wind speeds will be about average most of the interval, picking up to quite strong northerlies later Sunday 4th into Monday 5th.
FORECASTS
TODAY will feature hazy sunshine and warm temperatures with highs 15 to 18 C (except for a few spots near the south coast where sea fog may drift in at times and hold temperatures down to 10-12 C). There will be somewhat more cloud in western counties at least for the morning. Generally light southerly breezes.
TONIGHT will be hazy with some patchy mist or fog developing, mild with lows 7 to 10 C. Rain may develop late in the night across parts of Ulster.
WEDNESDAY will turn considerably cooler in many areas as winds turn northeasterly at 30-50 km/hr, some rain returning to Donegal and spreading down the west coast during the day (5-10 mm possible). Mostly cloudy elsewhere but some brighter intervals persisting in the southeast where it may remain somewhat warmer. Morning lows in all areas around 8 C but temperatures only edging back up slightly in the north and west to 10-12 C, recovering to 14-16 C in the southeast.
THURSDAY while the winds remain easterly, the fresher variety of air mass will be gradually moderating back to pleasant spring warmth, with lows 4-7 C and highs 12-15 C, warmest in west Munster. With the east wind, it would be the Leinster coastline seeing some local cooling from sea breezes. Skies may start out rather cloudy becoming at least partly sunny by mid-day and afternoon.
(GOOD) FRIDAY will remain dry and mixtures of cloud and sun in east winds of 30-50 km/hr, morning lows 2-5 C and afternoon highs 11-15 C with some cooler readings possible in the east.
SATURDAY will remain similar with partly cloudy skies, less of an east wind factor as a ridge crests over Ireland, so local sea breezes possible on all coasts, highs 10-14 C.
EASTER SUNDAY may hold on to similar pleasant temperatures at least to the afternoon although the north may see a sharp drop towards late in the day, and while dry weather is expected to continue for most, a band of rain will be arriving from the north late afternoon or evening. Highs 10-13 C early in the day with a sharp drop likely by afternoon in northern counties, by the overnight hours for the south coast.
MONDAY-TUESDAY (5th-6th Apr) are still being shown as much colder days with northerly winds of 50-80 km/hr and mixed wintry showers likely, some snow on hills. Highs only 4 to 6 C and lows -3 to +1 C.
The further outlook then calls for slight moderation but with potential for a second wave of very cold temperatures to follow within a week. In general, this guidance is probably only "medium" confidence at this point but it should be noted that the interval from 5 to 15 April shows up about as cold as any recent year has ever produced at this time of year.
Peter for IWO