Met Éireann weather forecast for Ireland for the week ahead with cold snap to return

Met Éireann has issued its latest weather forecast for Ireland for the week ahead with unsettled weather to persist and colder weather to return for the weekend.

The news comes as Ireland is enduring a long spell of wet and windy weather with flooding in many parts of the country. Met Éireann last week revealed that the country hasn't had an entirely dry day nationwide since late December.

In its outlook for the coming days and week, Met Éireann predict "mild but generally mixed and unsettled weather this week. Cooler by Friday and into next weekend."

Their forecast for Monday says it will be "mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading from the west and southwest through the morning and afternoon, with some heavier bursts possible. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. Light to moderate south to southwest winds will be fresh to strong at times near coasts."

The rest of the week isn't looking much more promising:

"Remaining cloudy on Monday night with patchy drizzle and mist. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in mainly moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong along Atlantic coasts.

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"Continuing mostly cloudy on Tuesday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. The rain and drizzle will be heaviest and most persistent in Atlantic and southern coastal counties with a fair amount of dry weather across parts of the midlands, east and north. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees, in moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong at times near coasts. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread to most parts on Tuesday night, with some heavy bursts in places. A few clearer breaks and showers will extend from the west towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with southerly winds easing light to moderate.

"Sunny spells and widespread showers, with some heavy thundery downpours and hail possible [on Wednesday]. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees, with light to moderate south to southwest winds. Showers will gradually die out on Wednesday night with some drier and clearer breaks for a time. Cloud will increase overnight with patches of drizzle and mist developing. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees with light to moderate southwest winds freshening towards morning.

"Confidence in the forecast is low at present [for Thursday], but current indications suggest a mostly cloudy day with outbreaks of rain extending from the Atlantic and becoming widespread in mostly moderate, occasionally fresh southwesterly winds. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees."

Looking beyond that, it looks like the cold weather we say earlier this month could make a comeback. Met Éireann says: "Continuing changeable and unsettled but turning cooler with temperatures returning to near normal."