Heavy rain and flooding risk before brighter spring weather arrives

The start of meteorological spring will bring heavy rain and possible flooding before conditions improve next week.

Met Éireann said wet weather will dominate the weekend, but sunny spells and a "good lot of dry weather" will return next week.

Friday began with rain and drizzle before skies brightened with sunny spells. Daytime highs of 7C to 11C are expected this afternoon.

Clear skies will keep conditions mostly dry on Friday night, but frost and icy patches will develop. Lows of -2C to 2C are forecast.

Saturday will start sunny and crisp, with frost clearing quickly. Cloud and showery outbreaks of rain will move into the west during the morning before spreading eastwards through the afternoon and evening.

It will stay dry for much of the day in the east, while a "clearance will follow into the west later."

Saturday night will remain mostly cloudy, with further rain and drizzle spreading from the southwest early in the night before becoming widespread.

Meteorological spring begins on Sunday, which will be wet and windy with heavy outbreaks of rain in the southwest and west. Some spot flooding is possible. Highs of 10C to 12C are forecast.

Rain will clear gradually on Sunday night, with lows of 2C to 6C.

Looking ahead to next week, Monday will bring bright or sunny spells and a good deal of dry weather in many areas for a time. It will become cloudier from the northwest as a band of showery rain moves in. Highs of 8C to 11C are forecast.

Monday night will turn mostly dry and clear as rain clears to the southwest, with lows of -1C to 3C and some frost and icy patches.

Tuesday will bring further dry and sunny spells, with highs of 9C to 11C expected.