Long Range Weather Forecast For Ireland (8 March 2021)

TRENDS for the week of 8 to 14 March 2021

-- Temperatures will average near normal values.
-- Rainfall will approach normal values too, with the usual regional differences.
-- 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.
-- After several almost calm days, this will be a much breezier week, at times windy.

FORECASTS


TODAY will be cloudy with sunny breaks and isolated showers. Highs 9 to 12 C.

TONIGHT some rain at times near the west coast making limited progress further east, overcast, milder with lows around 6 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 11 C.

WEDNESDAY will be a blustery day with variable amounts of cloud, some passing showers at first, with a frontal band of heavy showers and thunderstorms by afternoon, and the risk of some strong winds developing by afternoon lasting into the overnight hours. Lows near 7 C and highs 12 to 14 C. The low responsible is rapidly developing northeast of Bermuda at this time. Strong southwest winds are expected with its passage on Wednesday afternoon to overnight, that could peak at 80-120 km/hr especially in more exposed Atlantic counties. Large waves and swells are likely on the west coast. Galway Bay may see localized shoreline flooding around high tides.

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 higher parts of the north, 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 13-16 C range.

Peter O'Donnell for IWO.