Outlook

Summary: Showery conditions for much of this week, some heavy or more frequent and with the risk of hail or thunder. However, a spell of persistent rain on Friday will clear later to scattered showers. There will be scattered showers with clear spells on Tuesday night. The showers will be heavy and more frequent in the west and southwest. South to southwest winds will be light to moderate with patches of mist or fog forming. Lowest temperatures will fall to between 3 and 7 degrees with perhaps some grass frost in the east and north. On Wednesday showery rain will affect the west with some heavy thundery bursts likely. Further east there will be scattered showers with some bright or sunny spells. Top temperatures will stay around 6 to 8 degrees in mostly moderate south to southwest winds, but strong and gusty near western and southern coasts. Showery rain will continue on Wednesday night over the western half of the country with scattered showers and some clear spells in the east. Moderate to fresh southwest winds will gradually veer westerly, but remain strong and gusty along west and south coasts. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with a touch of grass frost over the eastern half of the country. Thursday will see scattered showers with some sunny spells. However, the showers will be heavy and more frequent in the northwest and north with the risk of the odd thundery downpour at first. But showers will ease and clear southeastwards later in the day. Top temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees. Fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest winds will veer westerly in the afternoon and moderate. Thursday night will be mostly dry with clear spells at first. However, later in the night cloud will build from the southwest with a spell of persistent rain pushing into the southwest and becoming widespread by morning. Winds will fall light with patches of mist or fog forming. Lowest temperatures will fall to around 1 to 5 degrees with some grass frost possible in the north. Friday will start cloudy with a spell of persistent rain clearing northeastwards to more showery conditions with some sunny spells. Top temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees. Saturday is likely to continue with showery conditions with some sunny spells. Top temperatures around 8 to 11 degrees in moderate southwesterly breezes.