A WEATHER expert has pinpointed when we can expect sunshine to return after “unsettled” weather with heavy rain and strong gusts.
It comes after Met Eireann revealed that the Dublin Airport weather monitoring station recorded zero hours of sunshine in the last week.
Strong winds will batter the country this week[/caption]
Heavy downpours will be widespread[/caption]
The station has also recorded 32 per cent more rain than normal.
A Status Yellow rainfall warning issued for Cork, Kerry, Waterford on Sunday lifted at 6am this morning.
However, those high rainfall levels will continue into the rest of the week as Met Eireann promise “unsettled conditions”.
Met Eireann’s Andrew Doran-Sherlock said: “Our weather is going to be unsettled through the rest of this week, with frequent wet and breezy spells. It will be mild for the time of year.
“So for today. while it’s been a damp and misty start with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle.
“That will clear northwards towards the morning and early afternoon and it will become largely dry with some hazy sunny spells developing.
“Still breezy though with moderate to fresh and gusty southeast winds, strong at times near coasts.
“Highs of 6C to 12C, coolest for the north and mildest for the west and southwest.”
And after a dry start tonight rain will move into the southeast early on and track north.
By morning that rain will clear from the southwest leaving some clear spells there.
Temperatures will drop to between 3C and 8C overnight, coldest in Ulster.
Wednesday then will start dry with some early sunny spells, however rain will return from midday.
Those noon spells in the southwest will spread across the country and Met Eireann have warned downpours may be “heavy” in parts.
And highs will sit at between 9C to 13C, with gusty winds accompanying.
Overnight on Wednesday things will take an even windier turn along with outbreaks of rain, although temperatures will stay above 7C.
Met Eireann warn: “Showery outbreaks of rain at first, clearing northeastwards early in the night as it becomes largely dry for a time.
“However, further showery outbreaks of rain will move in from the southwest later, extending across the country by morning as southerly winds increase fresh to strong and gusty by morning, reaching near gale force near southern and western coasts.”
‘STRONG AND GUSTY’
More showers on Thursday with “heavy” downpours a possibility.
This rain may be paired with thunderstorms at times and spot flooding is a risk.
Come evening it will start to ease with clouds forming in 10C to 14C temperatures.
And weather expert Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather warned: “Plenty of wind coming Thursday and Friday with strongest winds Sunday.
“Also spells of heavy rain Thursday, Friday and Sunday mornings.”
And more of that “heavy” rain is set to fall on Thursday night with “localised flooding possible, especially for southern areas.”
Another windy night with “strong and gusty” winds but temperatures again staying above 7C.
‘LOOKING FOR SUNSHINE?’
On Friday it will be another mixed day starting wet and cloudy before showers ease to a sunny afternoon, leaving downpours isolated to Atlantic areas.
Afternoon temperatures could reach 13C but isolated thunderstorms are a possibility once again.
After the wet week there is set to be a change in the forecast over the weekend with sunshine returning.
Weather expert Alan O’Reilly took to social media to highlight the exact day we can expect some rays.
He said: “Looking for sunshine? Saturday looks to be the day.”
And Met Eireann added: “A day of sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly for Atlantic areas at first but extending eastwards through the morning and afternoon. Cloud will build from the southwest later.”
But “heavy” rain and “near gale force” winds look set to return in early forecasts for Sunday.
