Forecast issued at: Monday 12th May 2025 14:00
Rain
The past week has been very dry nationwide with little rainfall recorded. Belmullet, Co. Mayo saw the most rainfall with 4.1mm of rain accumulated, which is 25% of the average amount of rainfall for this time of year, while a number of places across the country saw no rain. The next few days will be unsettled with some rain and showers, particularly in the southwest, but by midweek dry conditions will return. As a result, rainfall amounts will generally be below average with less than 5mm for most areas, and slightly more rainfall expected in the west and southwest with up to 10mm possible here.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures for the past week were within one degree of average for most. However, it was 1 or 2 degrees cooler than average in northern and eastern coastal areas, with parts of the west 1 or 2 degrees warmer than average. Mean air temperatures ranged from 8.7 degrees in the east to 12.6 degrees in the west. Mean soil temperatures are currently between 3 and nearly 6 degrees above average, ranging from 12.7 to 16.4 degrees. In the coming week, mean air temperatures will increase day-on-day, rising to between 13 and 16 degrees generally. This is 2 to 4 degrees above average. Mean soil temperatures will increase slightly also.
Sunshine
Over the past week, sunshine amounts were well above average across the country, ranging between 179 and 210% of average. Sunshine hours ranged from 72.3 hours recorded at Valentia, Co. Kerry to 86.6 hours in Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Sunshine amounts are expected to be above average for the coming week, aside from some cloudy periods tomorrow and Wednesday in the south and west.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will generally be good over the coming week but will decrease to moderate or poor in any showers in the south and west tomorrow and on Wednesday.
Spraying
There will generally be good opportunities for spraying over the coming week, though potentially heavy showers in the south and west tomorrow and on Wednesday may hinder spraying.
Field Conditions
All soils are currently trafficable and there is some restriction to growth with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) of between 26mm and 38mm. Despite some rain and showers at first in the coming seven days, overall there will be a good deal of dry weather. Combined with good drying, this will lead to an increase in SMDs in the coming week. SMDs will generally increase to between 35mm and 54mm with continued restriction to growth in some areas.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
