Weekend washout forecast with ‘quite significant rainfall’ possible

Met Éireann forecaster says potential for weather warning after period of relatively settled weather

An abandoned sandcastle at Bunmahon Beach in Co Waterford. Some relatively settled weather is forecast this week before another wet weekend. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
An abandoned sandcastle at Bunmahon Beach in Co Waterford. Some relatively settled weather is forecast this week before another wet weekend. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien

A week of sunshine and occasional showers has been forecast, but conditions are to change dramatically, for the worse, ahead of the weekend.

A period of relatively settled weather will come as something of a relief, given how extremely wet July was and early August has been to date.

Temperatures this week are expected to be slightly above average for the time of year. Rain will be confined to a few showers in most places, particularly in western and southern coastal regions.

Thursday will be the best day of the week, with high temperatures of between 19 and 23 degrees nationwide, but a notable change is then anticipated.

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Friday will see rain spread across the country and the weekend looks to be something of a write-off. Saturday and Sunday will see heavy showers with the likelihood of heavy spells of rain on Sunday.

Met Éireann forecaster Emer Flood said there is a possibility of “quite significant rainfall” on Friday night into Saturday.

She said the issuing of a weather warning next weekend was a strong possibility. “The details are uncertain as it stands, but I would not rule out another warning,” she said.

Heading into next week, showery and breezy weather is forecast to continue with no sign of a settled period of warm weather as the summer draws to a close. The forecast for southern Europe shows that Greece retains a number of heat alerts, but other countries will have normal weather for the time of year.

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy

Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter with The Irish Times