Weekend set to bring wind and rain after prolonged heat spell
Kenneth Fox
Met Eireann says people will notice a change in the weather from Saturday.
The warm summery weather we have been experiencing for the past month is coming to an end.
It is expected that Friday will be the last dry, bright day for the next while.
Met Eireann Meteorologist Rebecca Cantwell says the good weather is ending, and some rain is forecast, and it will also become windier.
Farmers in the south-east are sounding the alarm with regard to the dry weather.
Although some rain is promised from Saturday, recent high temperatures and low rainfall have negatively impacted crops and animals.
Speaking to Newstalk, Denis Drennan, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, says a lot of rain is needed.
"We are in a serious position, especially in the south east. We have 90 to 100 millimetres of deficit in the soil moisture, which is about two inches of rain.
"The chances of getting that amount of rain in the future are pretty poor at the moment."
Drennan said the growth rate has really collapsed, and farmers measure grass growth rate by kilograms of dry matter per hectare.
"It should be somewhere between 50 and 60 kilograms per hectare per day at the moment, but it is under 20 now," he said.
Starting off generally cloudy this morning, w/ the odd patch of light rain or drizzle possible in the N & W for a time 🌥️ 🌂
Becoming drier & brighter though, as sunny spells increase through the early afternoon 🌤️
Highs of 17 to 24°C, warmest in the S & E 🌡️ pic.twitter.com/YKP4o4RWor
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 24, 2026
Friday will be largely dry with a fair amount of cloud and some decent sunny spells.
The evening will become increasingly cloudy in Ulster and Connacht with some patchy rain or drizzle developing in the northwest. Highest temperatures of 17 to 24 degrees, warmest in the south and east, with light to moderate west to northwest breeze.
Saturday will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading southeastwards through the morning and becoming lighter and patchier as it does so.
Some parts of the southeast will stay dry. During the evening, further rain and drizzle will develop in the west and northwest. Highest temperatures of 15 to 21 degrees with moderate westerly winds.
Met Éireann said overall there will be a change to more unsettled weather, with damp and breezy conditions and temperatures near or slightly above normal.
Sunday will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle at first, but becoming drier with occasional breaks in the cloud as the day goes on.
Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the southeast. Breezy with a moderate to fresh westerly wind.
There will be some early sunny spells in the south and east on Monday, but otherwise it will be a largely cloudy day with rain or drizzle developing in many areas.
The rain is forecast to be most persistent in the north and west and parts of the southeast may remain dry. Highest temperatures ranging between 16 degrees in the northwest and 23 degrees in the southeast, in a moderate southwesterly wind.
