According to Met Eireann, rain will clear early on Saturday morning, leaving a mixture of sunny intervals and showers. It will become mainly dry in the afternoon, but rain will return early in the night to east Munster, much of Leinster and east Ulster, turning heavy at times. Strong, southerly winds will moderate in the afternoon and it will stay very mild. Highest temperatures will range from 13°C to 15°C.

Outlook

Heavy rain is forecast for a time on Saturday night in parts of the south and east. It will be a little cooler than recent nights, with temperatures falling to between 5°C and 8°C.

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Sunday is expected to be a bright day with dry spells in all areas but some heavy and possibly thundery downpours also. It will be fresher than at present, with highest temperatures of around 10°C in blustery southwesterly winds. The evening will be cool and dry, with temperatures falling to 4°C or 5°C. However, mild, wet and windy weather will move in from the Atlantic overnight.

Heavy rain for rush hour Monday will clear away eastwards during the morning and the afternoon will be dry with sunny spells. Temperatures will range from 10°C to 13°C. Fresh to strong southerly winds at first will veer west to southwest with the clearance, and moderate in the afternoon. However, Monday night will see more wet and windy weather sweep up from the south.

The outlook for Christmas week is mixed.

Management

Tillage editor Andy Doyle writes that while wet conditions mean that field work is not possible for the moment, crops need to be checked and this is a good time to consider plans for the future. To read more from Andy on tillage management this week, click here.

Nathan Tuffy gives key advice on treating lice and fluke indoors, the need to weigh cattle during winter months and what can be done if flooding is an issue in the farmyard.

Darren Carty advises on feeding early lambing ewes, liver fluke and a reminder on completing the sheep census and replacing lost tags. To read Darren’s recommendations for this week, click here.

Aidan Brennan writes that signing a contract-rearing agreement will only go so far; trust between parties must also exist. To read Aidan’s recommendations for this week click here.