THE Bank Holiday weekend is looking to bring “changeable” weather to Irish shores as rain and cold take over.
“Plenty” of dry conditions are expected to hit for the long weekend, but forecasters have warned that this won’t be without heavy rain and chilly temperatures at times.
Frost was seen in Carlow this morning as temperatures dropped[/caption]
The cold weather has already begun in parts of the country, with thousands waking up to minus figures today.
Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly said: “A cold morning with frost for many with a low of -3.9c at my station near Tullow, meanwhile further west its is -3.7c at Tulla in Clare.
“Cloud will push in from West this afternoon with some heavy rain this evening clearing overnight moving East across the country.”
Met Eireann’s Rebecca Cantwell has also warned of heavy rain making an appearance this evening, with conditions to continue into the weekend.
She said: “Our weather will be changeable as we move towards the Bank Holiday weekend.
“We’ll see plenty of dry and bright conditions along with some spells of rain at times.”
She added that today will be mostly dry but isolated showers will be contained to the north and west.
She added: “This morning, it’s largely dry and bright with sunny spells and just isolated showers, mainly in the north and west.
“It’ll become cloudier this afternoon from the west and outbreaks of rain or drizzle will develop in Atlantic counties by evening. Highest afternoon temperatures will cool 5C to 8C.”
Overnight, rain will become heavy early on but clear soon with temperatures seeing a sharp drop.
“Rebecca said: “Tonight rain will spread eastwards across the country early on and it’ll be heavy at times but it’ll quickly clear and then there’ll just be the odd shower following in from the west. Temperatures will fall to a chilly 0-5 degrees overnight.”
‘BEST DAY’
Friday is set to see the calm before the storm for the Bank Holiday weekend, with the best of the weather hitting.
She said: “Tomorrow, Friday, will bring the best day of the week as it looks set to be a dry day with spells of sunshine that’ll turn hazy at times.
“It’ll be a milder day tomorrow as temperatures rise to between 7-10 degrees in just light southerly breezes.”
This will all change on Saturday when rain and drizzle emerge, bringing windier weather with it.
Rebecca added: “Saturday on the other hand will be a rather cloudy and breezy day with outbreaks of light rain over the west and south but heavier, more persistent rain will move into the west and southwest by evening. That rain will spread eastwards overnight.”
Sunday will then see rain to start the day before it clears in the early afternoon.
While Monday will again see rain spread, with breezier conditions rolling in.
Rebecca said: “Sunday will start out wet in the east but the rain won’t be long clearing away with dry and bright conditions returning for the rest of the day.
“Bank Holiday Monday will see further breezy conditions with scattered showers at first before rain and drizzle move in over the western half of the country.
