Ireland braced for thunder, sleet and hail in Met Éireann's wild weekend weather forecast

Ireland is in for a mixed and at times wintry weekend with thunderstorms, hail and even sleet all featuring in the latest Met Éireann forecast.

Met Éireann says Friday will improve in parts after a cloudy start, with southern cloud clearing to leave "good spells of sunshine" and scattered showers. But things are set to turn more unsettled later, with showers becoming "more frequent in the north-west, some turning heavy" by evening.

The national forecaster warns that tonight will bring "clear spells and scattered showers", most frequent in the north and west, and adds that "some of the showers will be heavy or thundery with hail possible".

Met Éireann also says "there could also be some falls of sleet, mainly on high ground" as temperatures dip to between 1 and 5 degrees, and as low as 0 degrees locally.

Saturday will bring more "sunny spells and showers", especially across Ulster, parts of Connacht and north Leinster. Some of those showers will again be heavy, with "the chance of isolated thunderstorms, hail and a little sleet on high ground".

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Temperatures on Saturday will stay cool at just 7 to 10 degrees, with moderate to fresh and gusty west to northwest winds, strongest in western and northern coastal areas.

The weather then takes another turn on Sunday, with Met Éireann forecasting "a wet and breezy morning" as rain pushes southeastwards across the country.

The forecaster warns the rain will be "heavy at times, especially for the north and west, with some spot flooding possible", while winds will turn fresh to strong and gusty, reaching near gale force at times for western and northern coasts.

Early next week looks milder but still far from settled, with Monday expected to be "a mild but rather dull day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle", while Tuesday will bring "plenty of cloud and patchy rain and drizzle but some sunny spells will break through".

Here is the full Met Éireann forecast:

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Friday, March 27

Cloud in southern parts will continue to clear southwards this morning with good spells of sunshine following and a scattering of showers. Later this evening the showers will become more frequent in the north-west, some turning heavy. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees with westerly winds increasing moderate to fresh for the afternoon, stronger for western and northwestern coasts.

Clear spells and scattered showers tonight, most frequent in the north and west. Some of the showers will be heavy or thundery with hail possible. There could also be some falls of sleet, mainly on high ground. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees generally, falling to 0 degrees locally, in mostly moderate, occasionally fresh, westerly winds, strong along Atlantic coasts.

Saturday, March 28

Sunny spells and showers tomorrow morning, these most frequent in Ulster and parts of Connacht and north Leinster, some heavy, with the chance of isolated thunderstorms, hail and a little sleet on high ground. The showers will ease during the afternoon, becoming isolated for the evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty west to northwest winds, strong for western and northern coasts, easing mostly light through the evening.

Saturday night: Largely dry and clear at first with just isolated showers. Cloud will build from the west with rain following into the northwest towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees. Light to moderate southwesterly winds will strengthen towards morning.

Sunday, March 29

A wet and breezy morning as rain extends southeastwards along with fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds, reaching near gale force at times for western and northern coasts. The rain will be heavy at times, especially for the north and west, with some spot flooding possible. The rain will clear southwards during the afternoon as sunny spells follow along with some showers, mainly for the north. Winds will moderate during the evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees.

Sunday night: Largely dry and clear at first with just some showers in the north. Cloud will build from the west through the night. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 or 11 degrees, coolest in the northeast, in mostly moderate westerly winds.

Monday, March 30

A mild but rather dull day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds.

Tuesday, March 31

Another mild day with plenty of cloud and patchy rain and drizzle but some sunny spells will break through. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

Further Outlook: A fair amount of uncertainty in the details for the following days but indications are that conditions will generally be mixed with rain at times but dry intervals too.