Met Éireann Ireland weather u-turn with one big change on the way

Met Éireann has signalled that a big change is on the way on the weather front for Ireland over the next week with some good news finally on the horizon.

The Met Éireann outlook says "our weather will be mixed and breezy overall through the rest of the week and into the weekend" but next week is looking up with slightly higher temperatures and a period of drier weather.

In its forecast for Wednesday night, Met Éireann says: "Further outbreaks of rain and drizzle tonight most frequent over the southern half of the country and in the west. Elsewhere any rain or drizzle will be patchy and light with a mix of cloud and clear spells. Some patches of mist will form tonight. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with a moderate or fresh southeast wind."

They foresee a "mostly dry day on Thursday apart from a little patchy light rain or drizzle in the morning. Varying cloud and sunny spells for most areas through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees with a moderate to fresh southeast to east breeze that will be strong at times along coasts.

"A mix of cloud and clear spells on Thursday night along with a few showers, mainly in the east and north. The showers will be isolated elsewhere. Light to moderate easterly winds will increase moderate to fresh overnight, strong near coasts. Cloud amounts will tend to increase too. Lows of 1 to 6 degrees will occur early on in the night, with temperatures rising as the winds increase.

"Largely dry overall with some sunny spells developing after a generally cloudy start to the day [on Friday]. However, a few showers look likely to affect the north and northeast, whilst cloudier conditions in the southwest could see some patchy rain at times. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty easterly winds, strong near coasts.

"On Friday night, outbreaks of rain are expected to spread across southern parts of the country overnight, advancing into eastern areas by morning. It is expected to hold mostly dry with patchy cloud and clear spells in the west and north. Lowest temperatures will range 1 to 5 degrees in parts of the west and north, but it'll stay milder in the east and south with lows of 5 to 7 degrees. Winds will be mostly moderate to fresh and gusty east to northeast , strong near coasts.

"Rather cloudy, especially across the east and south of the country with rain at times [on Saturday], perhaps heavy and persistent in the south later. Western and northern parts will see more of a mix of cloud and bright spells with just patchy rain and drizzle in the afternoon. Highest temperatures will range 7 to 11 degrees. Winds will be mostly moderate east to northeast in direction, fresh to strong near coasts. Saturday night will be cloudy and wet across Munster and Leinster with outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy at times. It'll stay mainly dry across Connacht and Ulster. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees with light to moderate northeast breezes, fresh and gusty near windward coasts.

"Current indications for Sunday suggest a mostly cloudy day overall with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Northeasterly winds will be mostly moderate in strength but they'll be fresh to strong and gusty at first near Irish Sea Coasts. Highest temperatures will range 7 to 10 degrees."

Beyond that, the forecast says: "A less windy and potentially drier and more settled start to the early days of next week seems probable. It does look fairly cloudy overall at present, however."