Forecast issued at: Thursday 17th October 2024 14:00
Rain
Over the past seven days, rainfall amounts were highest in southern areas with between 24 and 37mm recorded (67 to 136% of normal), highest at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. Elsewhere, rainfall amounts were much lower than the average with between 7.7 and 18.3mm recorded (37 to 57% of normal), driest at Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin. The coming week will be wetter than normal with spells of rain and showers, turning heavy at times. Overall, rainfall amounts will likely range between 50 and 90mm for much of the southwest, west and northwest with 30 to 50mm elsewhere which equates to 1.5 to 2.5 times the average amounts for the time of year.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures over the past week were colder than average throughout the country, ranging from 7.5 to 10.6 degrees which is between 0.9 and 2.4 degrees below normal, coldest in the midlands. Mean soil temperatures are generally close to or a bit above normal, ranging from 9.5 to 11.8 degrees. The coming week will be milder with mean air temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees expected which is 1 or 2 degrees above the average. Mean soil temperatures will likely increase slightly.
Sunshine
Sunshine amounts during the past week were above average over much of the country. It was sunniest at Dublin Airport where 32.8 hours of sunshine were recorded (137% of average). It was dullest at Malin Head, Co. Donegal with 22.4 hours of sunshine recorded (110% of average). The rest of the week will be unsettled and often cloudy so sunshine totals are expected to be below normal this week.
Drying Conditions
Drying conditions will often be poor over the coming week though there will be good opportunities for much of the country on Saturday away from showers and before rain moves in from the southwest later.
Spraying
Similarly, the best spraying opportunities will be on Saturday away from showers and before rain and stronger winds move in from the southwest later.
Field Conditions
All soils are currently saturated or close to it and some poorly drained soils are waterlogged in the northwest and in southern parts. With above average rainfall amounts expected widely, soil conditions will deteriorate with some moderately and more poorly drained soils in the south and northwest becoming waterlogged. There is the potential for a slight recovery towards the end of the seven-day period.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
