-- Temperatures will average 0.5 to 1.5 deg below normal.
-- Rainfall will approach normal values.
-- Sunshine will likely be rather limited to perhaps 50 per cent of normal although a few parts of the east and south may run closer to normal values.
FORECASTS
TODAY will be partly cloudy to overcast at times, with light southerly winds, isolated showers in western counties, and sunny breaks in the east and south. Highs 8 to 11 C.
MONDAY will be cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated showers. Highs 9 to 12 C.
TUESDAY will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain becoming heavier during the afternoon and evening, winds becoming moderate southwest 40 to 70 km/hr. Lows near 4 C and highs near 10 C.
WEDNESDAY will be a blustery day with variable amounts of cloud, some passing showers at first, and the risk of some strong winds developing late in the day. Lows near 6 C and highs 10 to 12 C. A strong low is predicted on almost all guidance but has only begun to form today south of Nova Scotia, Canada, tracking east-northeast. So with the uncertainty we need to mention with any weather system that hasn't come together yet, there seems to be a high probability of strong westerly winds with this system when it passes north of Ireland on Wednesday night. The winds could peak at 80-120 km/hr especially in more exposed Atlantic counties. Squally showers and perhaps local thunderstorms could develop with the frontal system some time between mid-day and evening Wednesday.
THURSDAY then looks quite windy too but cold with temperatures falling back to the 5-7 C range, strong west to northwest winds 70-100 km/hr, and passing squally and in some places wintry showers.
FRIDAY will be somewhat improved but still rather cloudy and unsettled, highs near 10 C.
The current outlook for the weekend of 13th-14th is for frequent showers and rather cool temperatures, but a nicer spell of weather would quickly build in around Monday 15th and last much of the following week with highs pushing up into the 13-15 C range.
Peter O'Donnell for IWO