-- Temperatures will average 2 to 3 deg below normal values (which by now would be 15-17 C daytime highs and 5-7 C overnight lows). The greater part of this deficit will be in the daytime readings.
-- Rainfall will gradually add up to near normal amounts in many places, or about 20-25 mm in total, but a few parts of the inland north could see more.
-- Sunshine will be infrequent and it will take some luck to get even up to half the usual amount of 6 hours a day.
-- Wind speeds will be generally rather light but will increase to moderate at times this weekend.
FORECASTS
TODAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, these mostly in the west. Although showers will be less frequent in most areas, Ulster and parts of north Leinster could see more persistent rainfalls of 5-10 mm. Elsewhere, trace to 2 mm amounts seem more likely. Rather cool with highs 10 to 14 C.
TONIGHT will become partly cloudy with showers more isolated in the north, lows 2 to 5 C.
FRIDAY will bring a mixture of cloud and sunshine with scattered outbreaks of showery light rain, becoming a steady light rain by evening in west Munster. Cool with highs only 10 to 14 C.
SATURDAY will be mostly cloudy with occasional rain, only about 5 mm is expected and some brighter intervals could develop by afternoon. Highs 11 to 15 C.
SUNDAY will be cloudy with some sunny breaks and occasional showers, again about 5 mm expected, lows near 7 C and highs near 13 C.
MONDAY will be partly cloudy with occasional showers, breezy at times (westerly 40-60 km/hr) with highs near 14 C.
TUESDAY will be partly cloudy with just isolated showers, highs near 16 C.
WEDNESDAY will bring increasing cloud and rain late in the day, lasting into THURSDAY. Highs both days about 15 C.
By FRIDAY and the weekend of 22nd-23rd, quite cool in northerly breezes, isolated showers, highs 12 to 15 C and also quite chilly at night, even a slight risk of frosts returning by late weekend into Monday 24th.
From there to end of May, somewhat warmer in stages, with some possibility that the weather pattern will return to somewhat more normal temperatures for late May.
-- Peter for IWO