Friday

Friday will be windy, with showers or longer spells of rain, but there will be some bright intervals.

There will be fresh to strong gusty westerly winds, which will be strongest in the north and northwest of the country. The winds will move gradually east through the evening as drier periods develop. Highest temperatures of 11°C to 13°C.

Any lingering rain and drizzle will clear early Friday night and the rest of the night will be dry, with some clear spells developing. Lowest temperatures of 6°C to 10°C.

Saturday

According to Met Éireann, Saturday will be mainly dry, with some bright or sunny spells, the best of these in eastern parts.

It will become increasingly cloudy from the west as the day progresses, with a chance of a little drizzle on western coasts. It will be fresh in mostly light south or southwest winds, moderate in some western coastal parts. Highest temperatures of 11°C to 15°C.

It will be mostly cloudy on Saturday night, with a little patchy drizzle, and it will be misty in places. Mostly light southerly breezes, with lowest temperatures of 8°C to 12°C.

Sunday

Sunday will bring a little rain and drizzle, the persistent rain mainly in western and northwestern parts. It will be mainly dry further east. Highest temperatures of 12°C to 15°C.

Sunday night will see the rain and drizzle spread from the northwest, with a clearance in many parts overnight. It will be coolest in the northwest and with the light to moderate southerly winds veering northwesterly as the rain clears. Lowest temperatures of 6°C to 11°C.

Management notes

Tillage

Good weather conditions continue to provide planting opportunities despite recent rain, writes Andy Doyle.

Beef

Adam Woods takes a look at hitting target weight gains with weanlings this winter, keeping clean water to stock and our upcoming online winter cattle series of webinars on www.farmersjournal.ie.

Dairy

Aidan Brennan says that body condition score has suffered in recent weeks and farmers should be considering drying cows off earlier this winter.

Sheep

Hill sheep farmers need to be mindful of genotyping proposals under the Sheep Improvement Scheme.