Forecast issued at: Saturday 22nd March 2025 11:00
Rain
Over the last seven days, rainfall amounts were well below normal nationwide. The highest accumulation of rainfall during the week was 25.7mm recorded in Cork which is around 118% of normal but this was very much an outlier as every other county reported 50-70% or less of average rainfall. Rainfall totals during the next 7-day period are forecast to be below normal with between 30-70% of average for most counties.
Temperatures
Over the past week, air temperatures were quite mixed with western counties being above average and eastern counties slight below average. It was coolest in the east with a mean air temperature of 6.3 degrees at Dublin Airport (0.6 degrees below average). The station with the highest anomaly as compared to the climatological mean at Knock Airport in County Mayo with a mean air temperature of 7.4 degrees (1.6 degrees above average). Soil temperatures were generally 1 to 2 degrees above normal ranging from 6.0 to 8.3 degrees. With conditions set to turn milder as the week goes on, mean air temperatures are set to become up to 2 degrees above average across the country. Soil temperatures will remain above normal.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts have been above normal across the country over the past week. Over 35 hours of sunshine were recorded at most stations this week. Dublin Airport was the sunniest location on the island with 44.3 hours of sunshine recorded equating to 174% of the norm. It will become cloudier and more unsettled from today however.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will be moderate with longer dry spells developing later this week but it will remain rather cloudy however.
Spraying
Spraying opportunities will arise in the early days of next week with mostly dry weather and light to moderate breezes.
Field Conditions
Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) generally range between 0 to +10mm at present with most soil types becoming trafficable. However moderate and poorly drained soils in the south and west are saturated. Looking ahead and with mostly dry weather soils in moderate or poorly drained areas should recover.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
