Weekend Weather

— Temperatures will average near normal values with a rising trend.
— Rainfall will average 75 to 100 per cent of normal, mostly around Sunday.
— Sunshine will average 75 per cent of normal values.

FORECASTS

TODAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, and highs near 11 C. Some rain at times in Ulster and northern coastal districts of Connacht.

TONIGHT will remain overcast with lows near 5 C. Sporadic outbreaks of light rain will make some southward progress from Ulster into northern counties of Connacht and Leinster.

THURSDAY will be mostly cloudy with showers becoming a bit more widespread in the north and sometimes reaching central counties, in a moderate westerly breeze of 40 to 60 km/hr. Lows near 4 C and highs near 12 C.

FRIDAY will also be mostly cloudy with a few outbreaks of light rain, more persistent in western coastal areas. Lows near 7 C and highs near 14 C. (The weak frontal band expected to drift south tonight and Thursday will stall out some time around mid-day Friday then will break up into fragmentary showers before drifting back north as a warm front Friday night and Saturday morning).

Weather shaping up well for the weekend but to be colder than normal

SATURDAY will be mild with occasional rain and lows near 7 C, highs near 15 C.

SUNDAY will be breezy and mild with rain, possibly heavy towards the end of the day. Lows 8 to 10 C and highs near 16 C. Winds southerly at 60 to 90 km/hr at times, possibly higher gusts near south coast.

MONDAY will see the rain moving off to the east and partial clearing, somewhat colder at 12 C.

The OUTLOOK for next week is for more mild weather to resume and temperatures could be into the 15 to 18 C range before Easter.