Forecast issued at: Sunday 27th April 2025 11:00
Rain
It has been much wetter than normal over the past week, with rainfall amounts between 1.3 and 3 times the average in most areas. Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry recorded the most with 55.2mm (249% of normal). However, northern areas fared better with closer to normal amounts. Malin Head, Co. Donegal recorded the least with 16.6mm. The coming week will be significantly different with many stations expected to remain completely dry, others may have just 1mm and the far northwest may have accumulations of up to 2mm.
Temperatures
Mean air temperatures over the last seven days were generally above normal by between 1 and 2 degrees, a little closer to normal in the north. Temperatures ranged from 9.7 degrees at Knock/Ireland West Airport, Co. Mayo to 11.6 degrees at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare. Mean soil temperatures ranged between 9.5 and 12.4 degrees which is between 1.7 and 3.3 degrees above normal. The coming week will be very mild with mean air temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees expected widely, possibly a little cooler in the north. This equates to between 2 and 4 degrees above the average for the time of year. Mean soil temperatures will increase further.
Sunshine
It has been duller than normal across much of the country over the last week, generally ranging between 23.5 and 28.5 hours (60 and 80% of the average) with Shannon Airport, Co. Clare recording the least. The north was the exception with Malin Head, Co. Donegal recording the most with 38.5 hours (101% of its average). The coming week will see better sunshine widely, especially from Tuesday onwards so sunshine amounts will likely be above average.
Drying Conditions
There will be good opportunities for spraying over the coming week with plenty of dry and warm weather with good sunshine, especially from Tuesday onwards despite mostly light winds and occasional showers.
Spraying
Similarly, spraying opportunities will be good for most for the coming week.
Field Conditions
Most well drained and moderately drained soils are close to saturation with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) of just up to 3mm. All poorly drained soils are at least saturated and some in the west and southwest are waterlogged. With mostly warm and dry conditions over the coming week, SMDs will increase throughout the country, likely ranging 14 to 24mm by this time next week for well and moderately drained soils with most becoming trafficable. Poorly drained soils will likely range between 7 and 17mm.
Forecast maps and meteograms can be found on Blight Forecast.
