Friday

Friday will start off dry, with plenty of sunshine, according to Met Éireann.

Showers will develop in the afternoon, becoming most widespread across the southern half of the country through the day. Temperatures of 9°C to 12°C.

There will be some lingering showers early on Friday night, but these will soon die away and the rest of the night will be dry with clear spells. Another cold night, with lowest temperatures of -1°C to 3°C.

Saturday

Any mist or fog will clear early on Saturday morning and it will be mainly dry to begin.

Once again, cloud will increase, with scattered showers developing, though they will not be quite as heavy or as widespread as previous days. Highest temperatures of 9°C to 12°C.

Showers will die away early in the night to leave a mainly dry night with clear spells, although some cloud and a few showers will push into western and northwestern areas later. Lowest temperatures of 0°C to 4°C.

Sunday

Sunday will bring a mix of cloud and sunshine. There will be a scattering of showers, which will be most widespread in parts of the north and northwest.

There will be fewer showers than previous days in the south and east. Highest temperatures again of 9°C to 12°C.

Sunday night will be dry in all areas to begin and it will be rather cold at first, especially in eastern parts.

However, it will turn less cold overnight as cloud continues to increase from the west.

Lowest temperatures early in the night of 1°C to 7°C, coldest in the east.

Bank holiday Monday

Monday will be a wet and windy day as an area of low pressure tracks in over the country.

Persistent and at times heavy rain will become widespread through the morning and early afternoon, with some bright or sunny spells following. Highest temperatures of 9°C to 13°C.

It will continue windy, with further spells of rain or showers on Monday night.

It is forecast to become mostly dry later in the night, with the winds starting to ease later too. Lowest temperatures of 3°C to 7°C.

Management notes

Beef

In this week's beef management notes, Adam Woods takes a look at some important scheme deadlines coming up, losing focus with late calvers and next week’s Tullamore Farm webinar.

Dairy

Aidan Brennan looks at the dos and don'ts if considering using sexed semen this breeding season.

Tillage

With planting now virtually completed, the focus turns to plant protection to help deliver good yield potential, writes Andy Doyle.

Sheep

In this week’s sheep notes, Darren Carty says grass growth rates have improved, but remain at a relatively low level, meaning farmers should continue to practice caution and take steps to help covers to build.