Forecast issued at: Monday 07th July 2025 12:00
Rain
Rainfall amounts have varied substantially across the country over the past seven days. It was wettest across parts of Connacht and north Ulster with 33 to 49mm recorded, which equates to between 195 and 281% of the average. It was drier elsewhere, indeed it was generally much drier than normal in much of Munster and Leinster. It was driest in the south and east, with only between 0.4 and 1.9mm recorded, which is 14% or less of the average, while rainfall totals were around average or a little above in western parts of Munster ranging from 16 to 24.5 mm. This coming week is going to be largely dry and settled, with just a few light showers or drizzle around, mainly early in the week in the north and west There is some uncertainty as we move into next weekend, with weather fronts trying to encroach from the Atlantic, but with high pressure trying to hold on. So for the coming week, up until next weekend at least, there'll be little if any rainfall, with figures ranging from 0mm in parts of the south and east to 7mm in the west and north.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures for the past week were generally close to normal with between 13.2 degrees at Knock/Ireland West airport to 16.1 degrees at Oak Park, Co. Carlow recorded. The range was between -0.7 degrees below normal to 1.5 degrees above. Mean soil temperatures were above average throughout the country by between 0.7 and 2.6 degrees, with temperatures of between 15.5 and 18.7 degrees recorded. Over the coming week, mean air temperatures are expected to be between 1 and 3 degrees above normal, ranging from 16 to 19 degrees C. Mean soil temperatures will continue above normal.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts were generally close to normal, ranging generally between 80% and 110% of normal, with 27.6 hours of sunshine recorded in Belmullet and 43.3 hours recorded at Cork airport. However, Knock/Ireland West airport was an outlier, as it only recorded 12.4 hours of sunshine, which equates to only 40% of average. Over the coming week, sunshine amounts will generally come in above average, likely highest in the south and east.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be generally good or very good later in the week.
Spraying
There'll be good opportunities for spraying later this week too.
Field Conditions
Moderately and well drained soils in the north, west and far southwest are close to saturation, with poorly drained soils there waterlogged. Elsewhere, soils are drier, with SMDs currently ranging between 15 and 60mm for all soil types, highest in the south, with some restriction to growth. Over the next week, SMDs will increase widely by around 10mm, though more substantially in the northwest, west and far southwest.
Further Comments
Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will occur from midday Tuesday through to Wednesday night, for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, and also for coastal parts of Clare, Galway and Kerry. Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
