Forecast issued at: Monday 04th December 2023 12:00
Rain
The past week has been drier than average with rainfall amounts ranging from 17mm on the north coast to 0.3mm in the north midlands. This is between 1% and 55% of average. The coming week will gradually turn more unsettled, particularly from midweek onwards. More frequent showers and spells of rain will spread from the southwest with rainfall amounts increasing to over 1 to 2 times normal for the whole the country, wettest in the east.
Temperatures
It has been colder than average nationwide over the last seven days. Mean air temperatures ranged from 1.4 degrees in the midlands to 4.8 degrees in the west, which is generally between 3 and 5 degrees below normal. Mean soil temperatures are around normal, ranging from 4 to 7 degrees. It will stay cold for the early days of this week but milder conditions will set in from Wednesday. Mean air temperatures will be around 6 to 10 degrees, around 1 to 2 degrees above the seasonal norm.
Sunshine
Sunshine for most of the country was above average over the last week. It was brightest along the south coast with 25.9 hours of sunshine recorded at Cork Airport (185% of average). Meanwhile, just 7.3 hours of sunshine were recorded at Valentia (67% of average). With more unsettled conditions developing over the coming week, sunshine amounts will likely be around average or slightly below.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be poor through the period due to cold conditions followed by spells of rain later next week.
Spraying
There will be opportunities for spraying today and for a time tomorrow Tuesday in between any showers.
Field Conditions
All soils are currently saturated with some moderately drained and all poorly drained soils near waterlogged. With more frequent rainfall in the week ahead, all soil conditions will deteriorate. All well drained soils will remain saturated. Almost all moderately drained soils and all poorly drained soils will become waterlogged. Poor trafficability will continue.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
