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Your daily forecasts from Boards.ie weather forum (NO CHAT)

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  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Friday, 6 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 6 to 12 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average about 1 deg above normal, with a colder turn likely near the end of the weekly interval.
    -- Rainfalls may average near or slightly above normal in parts of the north, to perhaps 50% of normal in the south.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal values.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will start out rather windy and cold, northwest winds 50 to 80 km/hr, and a few showers, turning wintry on hills in the north. There will be limited sunshine but some brighter intervals will develop, and the winds will tend to diminish by afternoon, backing to westerly. Highs around 8 C.

    TONIGHT will start out chilly but with cloud and winds increasing, milder temperatures will appear before morning. Lows -1 to +3 C with rising temperatures after midnight.

    SATURDAY will be rather windy and milder, with intervals of rain spreading from west to east. About 10-15 mm rain can be expected in the west and north, to perhaps 5 mm in parts of the southeast. Winds increasing to southwest 70-110 km/hr. Some very strong gusts in exposed areas and in particular on hills in the southwest. Highs 9 to 13 C.

    SUNDAY will start out with blustery showers followed by clearing skies for a while, then a new round of scattered showers, some turning a bit wintry on higher ground by afternoon. Westerly winds about 50 to 80 km/hr and temperatures steady around 7 C.

    MONDAY will see a return of milder air, although it may have some trouble pushing colder air out of parts of Ulster. This will mean rainfall that is fairly widespread across the north may start out sleety or with a rain-snow mixture for a while. Elsewhere the milder air will have no problems taking over, highs will reach 12 to 14 C. Winds west-southwest about 50 to 80 km/hr with higher gusts near Atlantic coasts.

    TUESDAY will become windy and possibly very windy for a time during the afternoon, winds southwest 70 to 110 km/hr at least. Occasional rain or showers may become squally. Temperatures steady in the range of 7 to 9 C.

    WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY will turn quite cold again with occasional sunny breaks and scattered wintry showers, westerly winds of moderate strength, and highs only around 5 or 6 C, with slight frosts returning.

    The further outlook is for these typical March oscillations in temperature to continue for another week beyond the end of next week.

    My local weather on Tuesday was partly cloudy and a bit milder again with highs near 6 C. The storm due into the region north of Ireland by Monday is getting started overnight east of the Carolinas and may brush parts of Massachusetts with a brief snowfall of 5-10 cms, but will not have much impact elsewhere in the northeast U.S. ... a weaker system near the lower Great Lakes will bring scattered snow or sleet in small quantities to higher parts of PA and NY.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Saturday, 7 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 7 to 13 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average near normal, but with the first half being about 2 deg above average, the second half that much below average.
    -- Rainfall will average around normal or slightly above in some parts of the north, to perhaps 50% of normal in the southeast.
    -- Sunshine will average a little below normal values for mid-March.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be windy and milder with occasional rain in the west and north mostly. There will be longer dry intervals in the south and east, but mainly overcast skies. Winds southwest 60 to 90 km/hr with some higher gusts near Atlantic coast and very strong winds on hills in western counties. Highs 10 to 13 C.

    TONIGHT will continue windy with occasional rain tapering to showers, lows near 6 C.

    SUNDAY will have a few squally showers around with variable cloud and some brief sunny intervals in moderate westerly winds, becoming quite strong again by afternoon and evening in parts of Connacht and west Ulster where there could be gusts to 110 km/hr. Highs will be around 8 C. The north and east will turn quite cold for the evening and part of the overnight period.

    MONDAY after some early morning sleet or snow in a few northern areas, rain will push in from the Atlantic during the morning and it will turn considerably milder in many areas. Ulster may take longer to warm up, but otherwise highs should reach about 12 to 15 C in moderate to strong southwest winds 70 to 110 km/hr.

    TUESDAY will be breezy, somewhat colder, with passing showers. There may be an interval of stronger winds by late in the day. Lows near 4 C and highs near 8 C.

    WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY will be quite cold, with the risk of wintry showers. Breezy to windy at times with highs only 5 or 6 C and slight frosts at night.

    Watching a system due in around FRIDAY morning that will not be very much above freezing on the track it is taking, for the potential of some snow or sleet in parts of the south and central counties, but sometimes these situations modify enough that a cold rain is the actual outcome, so just something to watch at this point. Temperatures will probably remain on the cold side until the following week when they may start to warm up rather steadily.

    My local weather on Friday was dull and rather cool with sprinkles of sleety rain but no real accumulation, highs near 3 C. At this time, Cape Cod is getting raked by strong winds and blowing snow from the strong low well out to sea, that is headed for Iceland by about Monday, and bringing the second wave of mild temperatures and rain for later Monday in Ireland. The low is not close enough to the U.S. mainland to bring most places a very heavy snowfall but that is probably happening a few miles out to sea. It will also miss most parts of Atlantic Canada and be somewhat weaker when it passes Newfoundland on Saturday night.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Saturday, 7 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 7 to 13 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average near normal, but with the first half being about 2 deg above average, the second half that much below average.
    -- Rainfall will average around normal or slightly above in some parts of the north, to perhaps 50% of normal in the southeast.
    -- Sunshine will average a little below normal values for mid-March.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be windy and milder with occasional rain in the west and north mostly. There will be longer dry intervals in the south and east, but mainly overcast skies. Winds southwest 60 to 90 km/hr with some higher gusts near Atlantic coast and very strong winds on hills in western counties. Highs 10 to 13 C.

    TONIGHT will continue windy with occasional rain tapering to showers, lows near 6 C.

    SUNDAY will have a few squally showers around with variable cloud and some brief sunny intervals in moderate westerly winds, becoming quite strong again by afternoon and evening in parts of Connacht and west Ulster where there could be gusts to 110 km/hr. Highs will be around 8 C. The north and east will turn quite cold for the evening and part of the overnight period.

    MONDAY after some early morning sleet or snow in a few northern areas, rain will push in from the Atlantic during the morning and it will turn considerably milder in many areas. Ulster may take longer to warm up, but otherwise highs should reach about 12 to 15 C in moderate to strong southwest winds 70 to 110 km/hr.

    TUESDAY will be breezy, somewhat colder, with passing showers. There may be an interval of stronger winds by late in the day. Lows near 4 C and highs near 8 C.

    WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY will be quite cold, with the risk of wintry showers. Breezy to windy at times with highs only 5 or 6 C and slight frosts at night.

    Watching a system due in around FRIDAY morning that will not be very much above freezing on the track it is taking, for the potential of some snow or sleet in parts of the south and central counties, but sometimes these situations modify enough that a cold rain is the actual outcome, so just something to watch at this point. Temperatures will probably remain on the cold side until the following week when they may start to warm up rather steadily.

    My local weather on Friday was dull and rather cool with sprinkles of sleety rain but no real accumulation, highs near 3 C. At this time, Cape Cod is getting raked by strong winds and blowing snow from the strong low well out to sea, that is headed for Iceland by about Monday, and bringing the second wave of mild temperatures and rain for later Monday in Ireland. The low is not close enough to the U.S. mainland to bring most places a very heavy snowfall but that is probably happening a few miles out to sea. It will also miss most parts of Atlantic Canada and be somewhat weaker when it passes Newfoundland on Saturday night.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Sunday, 8 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 8 to 14 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average near normal, but with the first half being about 2 deg above average, the second half that much below average.
    -- Rainfall will average around normal or slightly above in some parts of the north, to perhaps 50% of normal in the southeast.
    -- Sunshine will average a little below normal values for mid-March.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be quite changeable with some bright intervals and then a few squally showers around with variable cloud and some brief sunny intervals in moderate westerly winds, becoming quite strong again by afternoon and evening in parts of Connacht and west Ulster where there could be gusts to 110 km/hr. Highs will be around 8 C.

    TONIGHT ... The north and east will turn quite cold for the evening and part of the overnight period with temperatures briefly falling to near freezing, but then milder air should begin to push in towards morning, with rising temperatures and some rain arriving on the west coast as winds turn more southerly.

    MONDAY after some early morning sleet or snow in a few northern areas, rain will push in from the Atlantic during the morning and it will turn considerably milder in many areas. Ulster may take longer to warm up, but otherwise highs should reach about 12 to 15 C in moderate to strong southwest winds 70 to 110 km/hr. The rain and mild temperatures will continue through the night before tapering off to showers by Tuesday morning.

    TUESDAY will be breezy, turning somewhat colder in parts of the west and north, with passing showers. There may be an interval of stronger winds by late in the day. For the west and north, lows near 4 C and highs near 8 C but in the south and east, a range from 6 to 11 C.

    WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY will become quite cold, with the risk of wintry showers. Breezy to windy at times with highs only 5 or 6 C and slight frosts at night. There may be an interval of stronger winds on Thursday but details on this remain to be confirmed.

    FRIDAY will likely remain rather cold with mixed wintry showers at times, and highs near 7 C.

    Next weekend could become a bit milder with occasional rain and temperatures closer to 10 C. However, there is a chance that it will begin to turn quite cold for a day or two, before clearing and then back to a milder trend as easterly winds become more southeasterly. This brief easterly doesn't look like it will have quite enough time to create any wintry bands of precipitation, by the time it sets up the pressure will be quite high and then winds should start to turn to milder directions. But we will keep an eye on developments.

    My local weather was rather unpleasant with low cloud, fog and wet snow at times, temperatures steady around the freezing point.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Monday, 9 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 9 to 15 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine are all likely to end up close to average for this time of year.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will become quite windy and milder with rain, more persistent in the west and north, just intermittent for parts of the east and south. Winds southwest 60 to 90 km/hr and highs 11 to 14 C.

    TONIGHT will continue breezy and mild with a little more rain at times, temperatures steady near 10 C.

    TUESDAY will be breezy and just slightly cooler with passing showers, moderate southwest winds, and highs 9 to 12 C.

    WEDNESDAY will become windy and turn several degrees colder with more passing showers, winds westerly 70 to 110 km/hr, with lows near 5 C and highs near 8 C.

    THURSDAY will be cold and windy with passing showers, some of them becoming wintry especially over higher parts of the north and west. Winds west to northwest 70 to 110 km/hr and highs near 6 C.

    FRIDAY will see a gradual shift back to milder temperatures and occasional light rain with highs near 10 C.

    Next WEEKEND, Saturday looks somewhat milder again with rain at times, highs near 12 C. Sunday will turn colder with showers and highs around 9 C.

    The outlook for the following week is rather tentative, with indications of a more settled trend, after perhaps a rather cold start, milder but possibly dry if rather cloudy in a southeasterly wind flow, temperatures could be into the mid-teens at times around or shortly after the 17th.

    My local weather brought some wet snow in the morning and a rather cloudy and foggy finish to the day, temperatures near 2 C.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Tuesday, 10 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 10 to 16 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine are all likely to end up close to average for this time of year.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be breezy and still rather mild with a slow downward trend for temperatures in western counties mainly, as weak cold fronts edge into the country and make slow progress. These will bring some persistent light to moderate rain that may amount to 5-10 mm in most places. Highs 9 to 12 C and winds southwest 50 to 80 km/hr at times.

    TONIGHT will be partly cloudy for the first part of the overnight period, then overcast with showers later, and somewhat colder again, with lows 3 to 6 C.

    WEDNESDAY will become windy and turn several degrees colder with more passing showers, winds westerly 70 to 110 km/hr, with highs near 8 C.

    THURSDAY will be cold and windy with passing showers, some of them becoming wintry especially over higher parts of the north and west. Winds west to northwest 70 to 110 km/hr, morning lows near 1 or 2 C, and highs near 6 C. There could be some stronger gusts around mid-day in exposed areas of the west and north.

    FRIDAY will see a gradual shift back to milder temperatures and occasional light rain with highs near 10 C. A rather weak frontal band of rain will bring a few hours of intermittent light rain but it won't be a total washout by the looks of the guidance.

    Next WEEKEND, Saturday looks somewhat milder again with rain at times, highs near 12 C. Sunday will turn colder with showers and highs around 9 C.

    Next week is difficult for the forecast models as it seems that a shift in controls will take place for a while, with high pressure over east-central Europe becoming a more significant influence, and the Atlantic taking a rest. Whether this means any colder air can work its way through a complex area of weak pressure systems, or the net result is just a dry or at least drier turn with little change in the overall temperature pattern, remains to be seen and models are in mild disagreement about details. Thinking the more likely outcome would be a mild, dry interval after perhaps one or two slightly colder days. I'm sure everyone in Ireland is fed up with rain by now, and I will be pulling for the dry weather to win out but don't shoot the messenger if 2020 stays on form and continues to bring inclement weather.

    My local weather was quite pleasant with mostly sunny skies and highs near 5 C. It has turned very mild in eastern North America with highs in the 15-20 C range in the larger U.S. east coast cities and even around 15 C in Ontario and Michigan. This is due to a strong area of low pressure tracking north of Lake Superior. Some of the energy from this weather system will feed (late today or tomorrow) into the low already forming up near southern Greenland to amplify the winds on Thursday in Ireland.

    Full moon shining in the window here at the moment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 11 to 17 March

    -- Temperatures will average near normal values.
    -- Rainfall will also be near average, possibly up to 25% above normal in south and east as they see as much as normally wetter west.
    -- Sunshine will be running behind and trying to catch up to normal on Tuesday 17th.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY ... In Leinster, expect a blustery shower to roll through soon, this has already cleared through most of Munster and all of Connacht and Ulster. What follows is a partly cloudy and windy regime with further showers likely to develop in southwest winds 50 to 80 km/hr. Highs will reach about 9 C but it will start to feel quite cold this afternoon.

    TONIGHT ... Windy and cold with a few passing showers, squally at times in counties around Donegal Bay where winds could be stronger too, generally southwest to west 50 to 80 km/hr but in a few spots in the northwest peaking at 70 to 110 km/hr.

    THURSDAY will be windy and cold with passing showers, some with hail and thunder. A wintry mix is likely on higher terrain in Connacht and west Ulster. Highs only 4 to 7 C, colder values in the north. Winds westerly 50 to 80 km/hr, some higher gusts near Donegal Bay.

    FRIDAY will see milder temperatures return, but with a band of rain that is now looking a bit more persistent and able to produce 10-20 mm for parts of the south and east as it moves through around mid-day to afternoon. Some partly cloudy skies may follow into west Munster and parts of Connacht. Morning lows near 3 C and afternoon highs 8 to 10 C.

    SATURDAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, and some outbreaks of light rain likely to become stronger when they reach central counties, with risk of a local thunderstorm. Lows near 5 C and highs near 11 C.

    SUNDAY will start to turn colder in west to northwest winds, with occasional rain and highs near 8 C.

    MONDAY will clear to partly cloudy skies and highs around 10 C.

    TUESDAY could also see some sunny intervals and highs around 11 or 12 C.

    The OUTLOOK is for a more settled weather regime than recently, although with some cloud and occasional minor interruptions by rain showers, and near normal temperatures. The longer term models suggest this dry interval may turn even milder for a day or two, then give way to colder weather from the east -- I think there's some chance the mild will like it enough to stick around and keep the cold at bay.

    My local weather produced chaos on the roads, luckily we had no travel plans so only heard about that second-hand, as wet snow fell most of the morning to produce a fresh 5-10 cm cover that apparently turned to ice on the hill up into our town from the nearby valley. Our high was probably a bit above freezing by afternoon.

    Stay well, that's the main plan around here too. We have roughly the same situation as I am hearing about in Ireland, what you might call intermediate health alerts. On the other hand, we already have summer time (changed the clocks in other words) for what little good that will do us in winter weather.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Thursday, 12 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for week of 12 to 18 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average near normal although there will be significant variations from day to day.
    -- Rainfall will average close to normal except slightly above in the southeast which won't run as dry relative to other regions as is often the case.
    -- Sunshine will average 75% to 90% of normal values and will have to work hard on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to get even that close.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will become very windy in the counties around Donegal Bay, with west-southwest gales of 80 to 120 km/hr. Elsewhere it will be a little less extreme but still up into the 70 to 110 km/hr range at times. Wintry showers will become widespread and it will feel very cold. Some snow will accumulate on hills in the west and north, and hail may mix into showers elsewhere. Highs only 4 to 7 C.

    TONIGHT the strong winds will gradually abate and it will stay mostly overcast with outbreaks of light rain in the southwest. Lows about 3 to 5 C.

    FRIDAY will bring intervals of rain (10-15 mm) that may be more persistent near the south and east coasts, turning more showery elsewhere with a chance for some partial clearing in the west by late afternoon. Highs 9 to 11 C.

    SATURDAY will be overcast with occasional showers, turning locally heavy and possibly thundery in a few central counties. Lows near 5 C and highs 10 to 12 C.

    SUNDAY will be breezy and turning colder again with passing showers, winds west to northwest 50 to 80 km/hr, highs near 7 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy to overcast, dry for much of the day in the south and east, some chance of rain at times further north, highs near 11 C.

    TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY should remain fairly dry and near normal in temperatures.

    The longer term models still have the same scenario as discussed yesterday, a milder and possibly dry interval followed by a somewhat colder easterly spell towards the last week of March. Confidence runs lower with each passing day into that period though.

    My local weather on Wednesday was sunny but quite windy especially in the morning, with some gusts to about 70 km/hr, and highs near 4 C.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Friday, 13 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 13 to 19 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will be near average for this time of year, starting to fall a bit later next week.
    -- Rainfall will be 75 to 100 per cent of normal values.
    -- Sunshine will be 50 to 75 per cent of normal values.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will start out dry but cloudy, then some rain will spread into Munster this morning and reach other parts of the country by mid-day to afternoon. Amounts of 10-15 mm are possible, especially just inland from the south coast. A partial clearance will follow the rain into some western counties before sunset. Highs 9 to 12 C. It is not likely to get very windy with this disturbance, just a few moderate gusts near some coasts.

    TONIGHT will see partial clearing and chilly temperatures just above freezing, with some fog patches, lows 1 to 4 C.

    SATURDAY will have an increase in cloud and back to some showery rain that may become rather heavy in a few spots by afternoon, south winds at 30 to 50 km/hr and highs near 11 C.

    SUNDAY will turn colder with variable amounts of cloud and passing showers with west to northwest breezes 40 to 60 km/hr. Morning lows about 5 C and afternoon highs 8 C.

    MONDAY will be cloudy with sunny breaks, highs near 10 C.

    TUESDAY will be overcast with a few brighter intervals early in the day, some rain developing, mild with highs 12 to 15 C.

    The models have begun to indicate that colder air may win the battle later next week, but I am not totally sold on this as we have seen a couple of reversals already and who knows if there might not be another one to follow? For what it's worth, some forecast models are showing temperatures dropping quite low for a few days around the 20th to 25th with some potential for local snow showers. We will continue to monitor and assess how likely this actually is.

    My local weather was partly cloudy with highs around 4 C. Being this far from large urban centres, the pandemic situation around here is mostly wait and see, there seems to be little spread of it here yet. Hope you are all well and coping. This has had the effect of cancelling our planned two week disappearance into the back country down south (can't be too sure the borders will remain open for one thing) so the silver lining is, more forecasts and less spending of money. But I'm going to miss the back country.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Saturday, 14 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland


    TRENDS for the week of 14 to 20 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average about 1.5 deg below normal, due to a much colder turn late in the interval.
    -- Rainfall will average near normal, most of it will have fallen by the end of Wednesday 18th.
    -- Sunshine will also average near normal, but will need to make up ground later due to a cloudy start.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will see outbreaks of rain heavier in western, central and northern counties where 10-20 mm could fall. The south and east may have a later onset for a more showery outbreak this afternoon. Highs generally around 10 to 12 C.

    TONIGHT will become windy especially around Donegal Bay, with westerly winds 60 to 90 km/hr and possibly stronger locally, falling temperatures and occasional showers. Lows by tomorrow morning near 4 C.

    SUNDAY will be breezy, cool, with bands of showers likely, so some places will have more persistent rainfall than others, as these bands feed southeast from the Atlantic into the midlands. Winds northwest 40 to 70 km/hr will be gusty at times, highs 6 to 8 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy with isolated remnants of the shower bands dying out, lows 2 to 5 C and highs 9 to 12 C.

    TUESDAY 17th will be mostly cloudy and rather mild with dry conditions for part of the day, turning to steady rain by mid-afternoon in parts of Connacht and Ulster, and by evening elsewhere. Lows near 7 C and highs 12 to 16 C.

    WEDNESDAY will bring this band of rain further south and it may begin to turn to sleet or wet snow in parts of the north as a second and stronger cold front arrives there. Temperatures will be steadily falling from near 10 C in the south and 5 C north, to lower values around 2 to 4 C.

    THURSDAY will become partly cloudy to sunny but cold, with morning frosts and daytime temperatures 4 to 7 C.

    The further outlook is for a cold spell to continue into the weekend of 21st-22nd. Ireland will be closer to the centre of high pressure than Britain, meaning that it should stay cool and dry in Ireland while some parts of Britain, notably southeast England, could see some wintry precipitation from the North Sea, either snow or sleet around London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, and possibly a bit more widespread than that at times. Watching for any potential for this to develop anywhere in Ireland but without much wind gradient it seems that cold nights will be the main feature. Eventually it would likely turn quite a bit milder as this high pressure modifies and sinks further south.

    My local weather on Friday was wintry, we have been over-run by much colder air that brought in some light snow that amounted to 5-8 cms in town and probably up to 15 cms in the local higher terrain. Temperatures fell to -2 C by mid-day and continue to edge lower tonight. There is a massive arctic high over Alberta with temperatures lower than -20 C for parts of the prairies.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Sunday, 15 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 15 to 21 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal, mainly due to cold days around the end of the interval.
    -- Rainfall will average about 50% of normal.
    -- Sunshine will average 75 to 100 per cent of normal.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be breezy, cool, with bands of showers likely, so some places will have more persistent rainfall than others, as these bands feed southeast from the Atlantic into the midlands. Winds veering to west and then northwest 40 to 70 km/hr will be gusty at times, highs 6 to 8 C.

    TONIGHT will be partly to mostly cloudy and cold with isolated wintry showers dying out. Lows 2 to 5 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy with isolated remnants of the shower bands dying out, lows 2 to 5 C and highs 9 to 12 C.

    TUESDAY 17th will be mostly cloudy and rather mild with dry conditions for part of the day, turning to steady rain by mid-afternoon in parts of Connacht and Ulster, and by evening elsewhere. Lows near 7 C and highs 12 to 16 C.

    WEDNESDAY will bring this band of rain further south and it may begin to turn to sleet or wet snow in parts of the north as a second and stronger disturbance forms there. Temperatures will be steadily falling from near 10 C in the south and 5 C north, to lower values around 2 to 4 C. There is some risk of snowfall accumulations in parts of Ulster, higher parts of Connacht and a few inland areas of north Leinster. This could stretch through the overnight period into early Thursday.

    THURSDAY will become partly cloudy to sunny but cold, with morning frosts and daytime temperatures 4 to 7 C. There could be some isolated outbreaks of snow or sleet in parts of the north, and we are monitoring for any extensions of that into Leinster (not indicated yet in the guidance though).

    FRIDAY will continue rather cold and mostly cloudy with sleet or light rain in some places, as weak warm fronts develop and move west. Temperatures may start out near or below freezing, then rise gradually towards 5 C.

    The OUTLOOK is highly uncertain but a lot of guidance shows milder air working around the cold high pressure to replace the colder air eventually and bring temperatures up towards 10-13 C towards the weekend of 21st-22nd or early in the following week.

    My local weather was unseasonably cold with a bit of light snow slowly clearing to partly cloudy skies, with a brisk northeast wind and temperatures in the range of -8 to -5 C. Nights will get as cold as -15 C before we see much moderation of this arctic air mass.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Sunday, 15 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 15 to 21 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal, mainly due to cold days around the end of the interval.
    -- Rainfall will average about 50% of normal.
    -- Sunshine will average 75 to 100 per cent of normal.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be breezy, cool, with bands of showers likely, so some places will have more persistent rainfall than others, as these bands feed southeast from the Atlantic into the midlands. Winds veering to west and then northwest 40 to 70 km/hr will be gusty at times, highs 6 to 8 C.

    TONIGHT will be partly to mostly cloudy and cold with isolated wintry showers dying out. Lows 2 to 5 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy with isolated remnants of the shower bands dying out, lows 2 to 5 C and highs 9 to 12 C.

    TUESDAY 17th will be mostly cloudy and rather mild with dry conditions for part of the day, turning to steady rain by mid-afternoon in parts of Connacht and Ulster, and by evening elsewhere. Lows near 7 C and highs 12 to 16 C.

    WEDNESDAY will bring this band of rain further south and it may begin to turn to sleet or wet snow in parts of the north as a second and stronger disturbance forms there. Temperatures will be steadily falling from near 10 C in the south and 5 C north, to lower values around 2 to 4 C. There is some risk of snowfall accumulations in parts of Ulster, higher parts of Connacht and a few inland areas of north Leinster. This could stretch through the overnight period into early Thursday.

    THURSDAY will become partly cloudy to sunny but cold, with morning frosts and daytime temperatures 4 to 7 C. There could be some isolated outbreaks of snow or sleet in parts of the north, and we are monitoring for any extensions of that into Leinster (not indicated yet in the guidance though).

    FRIDAY will continue rather cold and mostly cloudy with sleet or light rain in some places, as weak warm fronts develop and move west. Temperatures may start out near or below freezing, then rise gradually towards 5 C.

    The OUTLOOK is highly uncertain but a lot of guidance shows milder air working around the cold high pressure to replace the colder air eventually and bring temperatures up towards 10-13 C towards the weekend of 21st-22nd or early in the following week.

    My local weather was unseasonably cold with a bit of light snow slowly clearing to partly cloudy skies, with a brisk northeast wind and temperatures in the range of -8 to -5 C. Nights will get as cold as -15 C before we see much moderation of this arctic air mass.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Monday, 16 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 16 to 22 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values, although most of that will come as a result of very cold days around Thursday and Friday.
    -- Rainfall will average about half the normal amount, mostly falling in one event on Tuesday into Wednesday.
    -- Sunshine will average about the usual 3.0 to 3.5 hours a day for this part of the month.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be a generally dry day with increasing high cloud dimming the sunshine by mid-day and afternoon. Some patchy light rain could develop for some northwestern counties later in the day. Highs 10 to 13 C.

    TONIGHT will see clouds thickening with occasional light rain in the west and north, mild with lows 6 to 8 C.

    TUESDAY 17th will be a rather cloudy but mild day with outbreaks of rain mainly confined to Connacht and Ulster at first, then spreading further south and east by evening. Highs 12 to 16 C.

    WEDNESDAY will see the rain moving south and possibly mixing with wet snow or changing to a sleety wintry mix for a while, before clearing further south. Morning lows 2 to 4 C and temperatures only coming up a few degrees if at all after that.

    THURSDAY will be partly cloudy and cold with the risk of isolated wintry showers, more likely near the south and east coasts and some distance inland. Quite a few places will likely escape this and remain dry. Lows -4 to -1 C and highs 4 to 7 C.

    FRIDAY will be cloudy with sunny breaks, still some risk of isolated wintry showers but with a milder turn later in the day, any localized showers would likely turn back to rain. Morning lows -3 to +1 C and highs 5 to 8 C.

    The OUTLOOK is for milder weather to return and it could turn quite warm at times in the final week of the month.

    My local weather on Sunday was sunny and cold with temperatures well below freezing. Still clear and frosty at midnight local time here, and around -12 C.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Tuesday, 17 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    Trends for the week of March 17 to 23 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal.
    -- Rainfall will average 50 to 75 per cent of normal values.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal also.


    TODAY will be cloudy and mild in most counties although somewhat cooler in north Connacht and most of Ulster. Rain will spread into those areas during the morning, while holding off in most other parts until later afternoon, although there could be a few light showers before then. The rainfall once underway will amount to 5 to 10 mm in most places. Highs 13 to 16 C in the south and east, but closer to 7 to 9 C in some parts of the north, around 13 C near the west coast. Not overly windy with this weather system, but some moderate south to southwest winds at times near the south coast mainly.

    TONIGHT will see the rain moving gradually through the central and southern counties, turning quite cold in the north where some higher elevations could see mixed showers or sleet. Lows 1 to 4 C on average, a bit milder in the southeast with the rain slower to depart there, although weakening as it moves south.

    WEDNESDAY some rain will linger in east Munster and south Leinster for part of the day, fragmenting to showers or drizzle later. A gradual but partial clearing trend will spread south behind the front and bring some sunny breaks, but a few wintry showers will develop in northwest winds feeding in across Donegal Bay into Connacht and Ulster. Best chance for some sunny breaks in east central counties. Highs 5 to 8 C.

    THURSDAY will continue rather cold with some risk of sleet or wet snow showers in a few places around Ulster and north Leinster. Some longer dry intervals in the southwest particularly, where sun may be part of the picture. Highs 5 to 8 C.

    FRIDAY will be sunny with cloudy intervals and rather cold in eastern counties, slightly warmer further west as east winds lose their chill crossing the land mass. Morning lows -3 to +1 C and afternoon highs 6 to 10 C.

    SATURDAY will bring variable amounts of cloud and some outbreaks of rain, more likely in the southwest, as a rather distant low spreads some moisture north from Biscay. Southeast winds may have a bit of a raw feel and temperatures may fall back slightly to around 5 or 6 C.

    The longer term outlook is difficult to assess with models trying to find ways of reloading the cold high but also toying with some scenarios of milder return flow and still trying to get a result for the colder air mass that at one point was supposed to be heading for Britain but now looks more inclined to dive into the central Mediterranean. Whenever the models throw up these scenarios that don't look like maps one has seen before, the doubt factor increases.

    The weather here on Monday was much improved, we still have the arctic high in control but it has warmed up a bit and with the strong March sun it felt quite warm although it probably wasn't much higher than 6 or 7 C, and has dropped back below freezing now.

    Best wishes to all for this rather unusual version of St Patrick's Day.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Wednesday, 18 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 18 to 24 March 2020

    -- The week will be generally rather cold (2 deg below average), dry and with a near normal division of cloud and sunshine.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be partly cloudy in central counties, more overcast to the north and south, where two separate and weakening frontal bands will drop light rain at times. In the north it will be cold enough for this rain to turn to sleet or wet snow later in the day, that is not expected with the southern band which will weaken and fragment to a few showers. Eventually a few brighter intervals will appear in the south too. Highs generally in the range of 6 to 9 C but closer to 4 or 5 in some parts of Ulster.

    TONIGHT will see partial clearing and frost will develop with lows -4 to +1 C.

    THURSDAY will bring a mixture of cloud and sunshine, rather cold with east to northeast breezes. Some outbreaks of sleety light rain or mixed rain and snow could fall at times in Ulster. Highs 5 to 8 C.

    FRIDAY will be a somewhat milder day after another frosty start, lows -4 to +1 C, highs 8 to 11 C mildest in Atlantic coastal counties. There should be some sunshine at times in most regions.

    SATURDAY will be rather cloudy with areas of rain brushing the southwest coasts, possibly making some inroads further into Munster around the afternoon, but it may stay dry elsewhere, if rather overcast. Lows near 2 C and highs 5 to 9 C.

    SUNDAY will be partly cloudy and a bit milder again, highs 10 to 12 C.

    MONDAY should turn even milder in a weak southerly flow, some rain may brush the west and north coasts, highs 12 to 15 C.

    Then the OUTLOOK for next week calls for a partial reloading of the cold high pressure but it may be a rather subtle change and with the growing power of the sun, highs may not fall much below 10 C as the slightly cooler northeast winds set in.

    My local weather remained mostly clear and reasonably mild in the daytime (5-8 C) but quite cold at night (-5 to -8 C). If you get a clear evening, you can easily spot Venus very bright in the southwest after sunset. Meanwhile, Jupiter and Saturn are starting their big show for later this year, with the pre-dawn hours the only time they can be seen presently. Mars is also in the general vicinity in the pre-dawn skies. By this summer Jupiter and Saturn will be closing in on a very close conjunction (as seen from earth, they never actually get any closer than we are to Jupiter). That will be visible in midnight skies by around May and in the evening skies by the summer months. Faster moving Mars pulls away and won't be all that close by the main event, rising late in the evening by summer. As this event draws closer, I will post more details about when the closest conjunction takes place. But you can estimate it will be around late autumn, because we pass Jupiter on the inside track around July 14 and Saturn around July 20 of this year. With Jupiter moving faster in its orbit than Saturn, it won't take long for them to reach the same vector (allowing for the fact we have moved on a bit, their closest to a "sun-centered" conjunction will be a few days before we observe it from earth).


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Thursday, 19 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 19 to 25 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 2 deg below normal (which at this point would be 11-12 C daytime, 3-5 C overnight).
    -- Rainfall will average as little as 10 to 25 per cent of normal in most places, but could approach 50 per cent in west Munster.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal values, about 3.5 to 4 hours a day.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will start out frosty in some parts of the midlands, with sunny intervals for most areas and some patchy cloud. There will be isolated and rather brief wintry showers in a few parts of Ulster and north Connacht, and some could appear from time to time near the Wicklow coast later on as they form over the Irish Sea. Highs around 6 to 9 C.

    TONIGHT will be clear to partly cloudy and cold with frosts likely, lows -4 to +1 C.

    FRIDAY will be sunny with cloudy intervals, rather chilly in eastern counties as east to northeast breezes reach shore, warming slightly further inland to the west coast. Highs 8 to 13 C mildest in Atlantic coastal counties.

    SATURDAY will be rather cloudy with areas of rain brushing the southwest coasts, possibly making some inroads further into Munster and western Connacht towards Donegal around the afternoon, but it may stay dry elsewhere, if rather overcast. Lows -1 to +2 C, and highs 5 to 9 C.

    SUNDAY will be partly cloudy and a bit milder again, highs 10 to 12 C.

    MONDAY should turn even milder in a weak southerly flow, some rain may brush the west and north coasts, highs 12 to 15 C.

    TUESDAY will see outbreaks of light rain and a slightly cooler trend with highs 10 to 14 C.

    The OUTLOOK for mid-week and beyond is for another interval of fair weather and rather cool temperatures to reload in a similar way to the current spell, with perhaps slightly higher temperatures in general mainly due to the seasonal warming trend rather than any structural differences in the two air masses. That cool spell will also probably yield gradually to temperatures closer to average by about the end of March and early April.

    My local weather on Wednesday was sunny and reasonably mild with highs around 8 C. Still clear out tonight (until you change your clocks, I am only seven hours behind since we went to daylight time last weekend). People who follow the climate change thread will be glad to learn that I do have a sidereal time indicator beside me and a direct line to the Royal Academy of Science. (mystified? it was a joke)


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Friday, 20 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    Trends for the week of 20 to 26 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values.
    -- Rainfall will average 25 to 50 per cent of normal values.
    -- Sunshine will average near or slightly above normal values.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be cool but pleasant after the morning chill fades. A persistent east to northeast wind may feel rather cold near the Irish Sea coastline, temperatures will be just slightly cooler (if at all) but with a less noticeable breeze further inland and on the west coast, it will feel more pleasant. Highs around 9 C east to 12 C west.

    TONIGHT will see more cloud than recent nights especially in the south, central and western counties, and this will keep temperatures above freezing there (lows 3 to 6 C). It could still get a bit frosty in parts of Ulster, northeast Connacht and north Leinster with lows there about -2 C.

    SATURDAY will become overcast for most areas, although the sun could break through at times. Rain will be massing off the south coast and moving past Kerry where it could come inland for a time, then up the west coast. Not absolutely certain to rain in many areas but could produce a few intervals of light rain or drizzle, measurable amounts more likely on outer headlands and the Kerry peninsulas. Rather chilly and raw as winds will increase somewhat without bringing in any milder air, highs still 6 to 9 C for most, but feeling colder than today for many areas.

    SUNDAY will be back to a more tranquil phase of this blocking pattern (and hurray for it, nobody needs any rain at this point, would suspect), with morning lows around freezing as cloud breaks just before sunrise, then daytime highs under partly cloudy skies near 10 C.

    MONDAY will be even milder as more of a south to southwest flow develops, still partly cloudy for most, cloud and light rain possible in some parts of Mayo and Donegal. Highs around 12 to 15 C.

    TUESDAY now expected to see little change as fronts are slowing down, so partly cloudy and around 13 C with rain later in the day for some western and northern counties.

    WEDNESDAY to FRIDAY look complicated -- the flow goes back to easterly and some disturbances form attempting to produce steady rain but they may remain a bit offshore to the south. Can't really get too specific this far out on how this will actually pan out, could be just a continuation of the dry and near normal temperatures theme, or could be somewhat more unsettled than that.

    My local weather was once again sunny and pleasant with a high of 10 C. It would be great weather to sit on a patio but ... either they are closed, or covered in the winter's snow if in the shade. We have lost perhaps half our snow cover this last week, but in shady or wooded areas there is still a fairly robust snow pack of 30-50 cms. South facing slopes are bare and even showing some signs of early spring, while north facing slopes are still snow covered.

    Apparently spring has already begun in astronomical terms, the fact that 2000 was a leap year (unlike three quarters of years that end in 00) has the effect of bringing dates earlier in the following century and they get particularly early in leap years (because today would be March 21st in a non-leap year). So spring officially arrived at 0349h UT (the time currently on clocks in Ireland) and every four years it arrives about a half hour earlier. Later this century, there will be leap years with spring equinox dates of March 19th in UT (we have had one here in our time zone due to the seven hour time difference each leap year since about 1992). This is why three leap years have to be cancelled every four hundred years, to keep jogging the slow forward drift of the calendar back to a reset position.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Saturday, 21 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 21 to 27 March

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values, coldest near end of the interval.
    -- Rainfall will average near or less than half of normal values.
    -- Sunshine will average 75 to 100 per cent of normal.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be overcast, rather chilly and feeling raw with the moderate east-southeast winds and some drizzle or light rain, more prevalent in Atlantic coastal counties and western parts of the midlands. Highs 7 to 10 C. Winds east-southeast 40 to 60 km/hr.

    TONIGHT will continue mostly cloudy with patchy drizzle ending after midnight, still a bit breezy although settling to near calm by morning, and lows 2 to 5 C.

    SUNDAY will bring a mixture of cloud and sunshine, still feeling a bit cool but a bit improved over today, with highs 10 to 12 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy and mild with southerly breezes and highs near 13 C.

    TUESDAY will continue partly cloudy and mild with a slow-moving band of rain edging into western counties but making little further progress east. Highs near 14 C.

    WEDNESDAY will see that rain starting to move a bit faster to the east although tending to dissipate gradually in amounts as it reaches Leinster and east Munster. Continued rather mild ahead of the rain (near 13 C) and turning slightly cooler in the west as winds turn more northerly there (to around 9 C).

    THURSDAY will be cloudy and colder with northerly breezes and highs near 8 C.

    The OUTLOOK is looking rather cold, remnants of a powerful cold outbreak into central Europe will drift west, and be joined by a fresh surge of polar air moving directly into the region from the north. The last few days of the month could turn rather wintry depending on how organized this is. Some mixed wintry precipitation shows up on maps towards the last day of March and into early April.

    My local weather continued sunny and mild with highs near 11 C, clear at night bringing sub-freezing temperatures.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Sunday, 22 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland

    TRENDS for the week of 22 to 28 March

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values, coldest near end of the interval.
    -- Rainfall will average near or less than half of normal values.
    -- Sunshine will average 25 to 50 per cent above normal.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will bring a mixture of cloud and sunshine, with longer sunny intervals in central and eastern counties, and still feeling a bit cool but with relatively light breezes for most places, feeling warmer than yesterday with highs 10 to 12 C.

    TONIGHT will be mostly clear with scattered frost inland, lows -3 to +2 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy and mild with southerly breezes and highs near 13 C. Once again, more chance of cloud near the west coast.

    TUESDAY will continue partly cloudy and mild with a slow-moving band of rain edging into western counties but making little further progress east. Highs near 14 C.

    WEDNESDAY will see that rain starting to move a bit faster to the east although tending to dissipate gradually in amounts as it reaches Leinster and east Munster. Continued rather mild ahead of the rain (near 13 C) and turning slightly cooler in the west as winds turn more northerly there (to around 9 C).

    THURSDAY will be partly cloudy and colder with northerly breezes and highs near 8 C.

    FRIDAY will be windy and cold with a risk of wintry showers in parts of the north and east. Highs only 5 to 8 C.

    The OUTLOOK calls for this colder spell to continue for several days, then a slow warming trend again with readings back into the mid-teens by the end of the week of 30th March to 3rd of April and into the weekend of 4th-5th April.

    My local weather continued sunny and even milder with highs near 14 C, clear at night bringing sub-freezing temperatures. Saturday was the first day since last autumn that I ventured out of the house without a jacket. Things continue very quiet here on both the COVID-19 and business fronts, which is at least partly good news.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Monday, 23 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 23 to 29 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 2 to 3 deg below normal (the first 2-3 days near normal, then 4-6 below).
    -- Rainfall will average about 25% of normal, except for patchy 50-75 per cent returns in west Mayo and Donegal.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal values.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be partly cloudy and mild with southerly breezes and highs near 13 C. Cloud will be thicker near the west coast producing a bit of light rain at times in west Mayo and Donegal and occasionally a bit further south and east but it should stay dry in the eastern half of the country and near the south coast.

    TONIGHT will be overcast and mild with lows of 4 to 7 C.

    TUESDAY will continue partly cloudy and mild with a slow-moving band of rain edging into western counties but making little further progress east. Highs near 14 C.

    WEDNESDAY will see that rain starting to move a bit faster to the east although tending to dissipate gradually in amounts as it reaches Leinster and east Munster. Continued rather mild ahead of the rain (near 13 C) and turning slightly cooler in the west as winds turn more northerly there (to around 9 C).

    THURSDAY will be partly cloudy and colder with northerly breezes and lows near 2 C, highs near 8 C.

    FRIDAY will be windy and cold with a risk of wintry showers in parts of the north and east as winds become northeast 40 to 60 km/hr. Highs only 5 to 8 C with slight frosts returning.

    The OUTLOOK for next weekend is for this cold spell to continue but then to be followed by a gradual return to more seasonable temperatures by about the middle of next week (1-3 April).

    My local weather featured an increase in cloud and temperatures near 10 C.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Monday, 23 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 23 to 29 March, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 2 to 3 deg below normal (the first 2-3 days near normal, then 4-6 below).
    -- Rainfall will average about 25% of normal, except for patchy 50-75 per cent returns in west Mayo and Donegal.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal values.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be partly cloudy and mild with southerly breezes and highs near 13 C. Cloud will be thicker near the west coast producing a bit of light rain at times in west Mayo and Donegal and occasionally a bit further south and east but it should stay dry in the eastern half of the country and near the south coast.

    TONIGHT will be overcast and mild with lows of 4 to 7 C.

    TUESDAY will continue partly cloudy and mild with a slow-moving band of rain edging into western counties but making little further progress east. Highs near 14 C.

    WEDNESDAY will see that rain starting to move a bit faster to the east although tending to dissipate gradually in amounts as it reaches Leinster and east Munster. Continued rather mild ahead of the rain (near 13 C) and turning slightly cooler in the west as winds turn more northerly there (to around 9 C).

    THURSDAY will be partly cloudy and colder with northerly breezes and lows near 2 C, highs near 8 C.

    FRIDAY will be windy and cold with a risk of wintry showers in parts of the north and east as winds become northeast 40 to 60 km/hr. Highs only 5 to 8 C with slight frosts returning.

    The OUTLOOK for next weekend is for this cold spell to continue but then to be followed by a gradual return to more seasonable temperatures by about the middle of next week (1-3 April).

    My local weather featured an increase in cloud and temperatures near 10 C.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Tuesday, 24 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 24 to 30 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 2 to 3 deg below normal values.
    -- Rainfall will average 25 to 50 per cent of normal (and possibly less in the southeast).
    -- Sunshine will average near to slightly above normal values.

    TODAY will continue rather mild with mostly cloudy skies and some rain at times in Connacht and west Ulster, making quite slow progress to the east, perhaps 5 mm in some places. Highs 12 to 15 C.

    TONIGHT will stay overcast and mild for most, as the rain becomes rather light and sporadic where it continues to fall, which by that time will be east Ulster into north Leinster and parts of eastern Connacht. Lows 4 to 7 C.

    WEDNESDAY will see the rain fragmenting more to showers or outbreaks of drizzle but it will start to turn colder behind the slowly advancing front. Temperatures will continue in the 11-13 C range in the east and some parts of the south, but will fall off a few degrees to 8-10 C in the west, and 6-8 C in the north, with skies slowly clearing near the west coast.

    THURSDAY will be considerably colder in all areas with the remnants of any rain or drizzle pushed off to the south in the morning. Some clearing may follow. Morning lows near 2 C west, 5 to 7 C east and south, but afternoon highs only near 8 C.

    FRIDAY and SATURDAY will be quite cold in a northeast wind flow of about 40-60 km/hr. Skies could be sunny at times especially over the further west counties and parts of the midlands, more cloud likely to flow in from the Irish Sea in Leinster and parts of Ulster. One or two wintry showers could develop, especially by Saturday when a bit of an upper level disturbance rotates around the high off to the north. This may be more of a factor in Britain than Ireland however. Highs both days around 7 C and morning lows around -1 C, possibly colder in a few well sheltered inland valleys.

    The OUTLOOK beyond this coldest interval is for a very gradual warming trend back to more normal (by then) early April temperatures of about 12-14 C in the daytime. This may take a few days of incremental temperature increases from Monday to midweek though, as the pattern will be almost grinding to a halt for a while. Still, the warming power of the sun at this stage should help get temperatures back in a good direction even if nothing else changes.

    My local weather on Monday was cloudy and a lot colder than the past week, in fact it snowed several times, briefly, but left no new accumulations of snow as temperatures were near 5 C during the intervals between the snow showers.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Wednesday, 25 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 25 to 31 March 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 2 to 3 deg below normal (about 5 deg below normal by this coming weekend).
    -- Rainfall will average only 25% of normal, and that only if a somewhat uncertain outcome around Monday-Tuesday next week verifies.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal values.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be another rather mild day in most areas, with some brighter intervals developing, as cloud may decrease for a while -- the weak frontal band in the north and west has almost lost all of its energy and moisture now, so just a few sporadic intervals of drizzle or light rain may follow. Highs 13-15 C in most areas, 10-12 C in parts of the west and north.

    TONIGHT will continue mild in the south and east with cloud and lows near 5 C. There will be some spotty light rain in the north and west and lows of 3 or 4 C.

    THURSDAY will see somewhat colder air filtering in from the northeast, but the main push of cold air will be delayed to Friday. Relatively mild conditions may persist in the south central counties, with the slightly cooler conditions making slow progress down the east coast and across the midlands towards Clare and Galway. Temperatures will be in the range of 8 to 12 C from north to south. There could be spotty light rain in some north central counties but it will be generally dry elsewhere, if rather overcast.

    FRIDAY will become sharply colder in a moderate northeast wind. Sunny with cloudy intervals, and lows near 2 C, highs near 8 C.

    SATURDAY will be windy and cold with a slight risk of wintry showers. It appears that eastern Britain will absorb most of the available moisture for local snow or sleet showers, and by the time the winds reach Ireland, they will have dried out and would have to rely on picking up moisture from the Irish Sea, but the dynamics appear rather weak, so it will be just the odd isolated snow or sleet shower possibly reaching Wicklow or Dublin. Otherwise it will be a cold but dry day, morning lows near -2 C and afternoon highs near 6 C. Northeast winds of 40 to 60 km/hr are likely. We'll monitor this closely because it could eventually change to a more wintry outlook.

    SUNDAY will continue quite breezy and cold with temperatures similar to Saturday, possibly a bit more cloud in the mix.

    The OUTLOOK is for the week to start on the cold side, but by TUESDAY or WEDNESDAY a brief warming will take place with a frontal system cutting into the higher pressure from the west and allowing temperatures back up to near 10 C, with a bit of light rain, then an even colder outbreak is possible from the north, lasting several days towards the weekend of 4-5 April.

    My local weather on Tuesday was overcast with occasional light snow that melted on contact with the ground. Temperatures were only around 2 degrees.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Thursday, 26 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 26 March to 1 April 2020

    -- Temperatures will average about 2 deg below normal, with the coldest values this weekend.
    -- Rainfall will average close to zero for most places and 10% of normal seems about the most that anywhere might see.
    -- Sunshine will average 25 to 50 per cent above normal.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will turn slightly cooler in some northern counties, and this trend will reach central counties after mid-day while waiting for tomorrow to enter the southern counties. Skies will become a mixture of sunny breaks and patchy low cloud drifting south in association with a weak front, and there could be a few spots of drizzle with that but no accumulations expected. Highs 14 to 16 C in the south (inland) and 12 to 14 in central counties, 10 C in the north.

    TONIGHT will see partly cloudy skies and a colder feel as northeast winds pick up to 30 km/hr. Lows will reach -1 to +3 C.

    FRIDAY will be sunny with cloudy intervals, except mostly cloudy in a few parts of Ulster and north Leinster. It will be a few degrees cooler with highs near 8 C in the north, 11 C central and 13 C south. Winds northeast 40 to 60 km/hr by mid-day and afternoon.

    SATURDAY will be breezy and cold, northeast winds 50 to 70 km/hr, and a mixture of sunshine and patchy low cloud drifting southwest mainly over Leinster and parts of the midlands, also in northwest Mayo and Donegal. Morning lows -2 to +2 C and afternoon highs 7 to 9 C.

    SUNDAY will be breezy and cold with isolated wintry showers possible, otherwise pretty similar to Saturday including the temperature range and sky conditions.

    MONDAY will continue dry and cool with a mixture of cloud and sunshine, perhaps sharper frosts due to lighter winds again, lows -4 to +1 C and highs around 8 to 10 C.

    This cool, dry interval will slowly become more cloudy and closer to seasonal averages in temperature by about Thursday (2nd of April) but then another colder spell will begin as winds turn back to the north. This next cold spell may be the last in the series and it should give way to some pleasant warmth towards Easter weekend.

    My local weather was partly cloudy and highs reached about 7 C, just about normal for here in late March (10-12 C would be normal at lower elevations).


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Friday, 27 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 27 March to 2 April, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average about 2 deg below normal, turning quite cold by the weekend.
    -- Rainfall will average near zero for most places.
    -- Sunshine will average 25 to 50 per cent above normal.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will continue the very slow cooling trend at least in most of the country, a few places in the inland south may remain rather mild for one more day. There will be a mix of sunny intervals and patchy low cloud, which may be more prevalent in some northern and western counties. Northeast breezes will become fresh and moderate by afternoon. Highs 9 to 12 C for most, 13 or 14 C is possible in a few sheltered spots (inland southeast being favoured).

    TONIGHT will be partly cloudy to clear, and rather cold. Lows will drop to about 2 C.

    SATURDAY will become colder with northeast breezes of 40 to 70 km/hr adding to the chill factor, and highs will only recover a few degrees to around 7 or 8 C. Skies will be partly cloudy with about equal amounts of sunshine and cloud.

    SUNDAY will also be breezy and cold but with a slight chance of morning wintry showers around the east coast. The morning may produce a bit of frost in sheltered inland locations, but with a fresh northeast to north wind there may be little frost in general even if temperatures drop a bit below zero. Lows around -2 C are possible. There may be a slight recovery in daytime temperatures in the western counties which could reach about 9 or 10 C. Elsewhere it will be closer to 7 C.

    MONDAY will become cloudy with just occasional sunny breaks, but should remain dry. Lows near -2 C and highs near 9 C.

    TUESDAY will be partly cloudy, and some isolated outbreaks of light rain may reach parts of Ulster, but otherwise it should remain dry elsewhere. Lows near 2 C and highs near 10 C.

    The OUTLOOK for later in the week is little changed with a slight warming to about Thursday followed by another surge of colder air from a northerly source, then in the longer term it should get back to more seasonable early April type weather with a return to rain at times the price to pay for milder temperatures.

    My local weather on Thursday was partly cloudy with highs near 8 C. There's a bit of a late winter storm forming over the plains states heading for the upper Great Lakes region and very warm temperatures have moved into the south central states and are headed towards the east coast of the U.S., with rain and thunderstorms likely with that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Saturday, 28 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland


    TRENDS for the week of 28 March to 3 April, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values.
    -- Rainfall will average close to zero in most places.
    -- Sunshine will be near normal to 25 per cent above in parts of the west and south.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be rather cold with a moderate east to northeast breeze, and a mixture of cloud and sunshine, with more chance for sunshine further west as the source of most of the cloud is either the Irish Sea, or leftover cloud that formed over the North Sea and remained intact after crossing Britain where one or two wintry showers could fall. It would be quite an isolated event if that also happened in any part of eastern Ireland. Highs about 8 to 10 C.

    TONIGHT will be partly cloudy with longer clear intervals further west and in parts of the inland south, so frost might be a bit more likely there with lows in the range -2 to +3 C.

    SUNDAY will be similar to today but could have a bit less cloud around, and perhaps a larger spread in temperatures from a chilly east (near 7 or 8 C) to a milder west (11 or 12 C).

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy with morning frosts in some places, lows -2 to +3 C, and highs 9 to 12 C. Winds will drop off to a more light and variable pattern as this will be the closest approach of high pressure that is slowly sinking south to the west of Ireland. This will cut off the northeast flow and replace it with light north to northwest winds, then eventually later in the week, westerly winds.

    TUESDAY to THURSDAY will remain fairly similar, some colder air that was trying to get south now appears more likely to get pushed east when it reaches Scotland mid-week, so other than a gradual increase in westerly breezes, and some fairly extensive cloud in the north, the weather will stay rather cool and dry, with temperatures edging back towards more seasonable readings, possibly around 12-14 C by Thursday.

    The OUTLOOK calls for this settled pattern to break down gradually around the weekend of 4th-5th to southeast winds, cloud and some rain with temperatures staying around 12 C. Eventually it may become rather windy and showery with temperatures edging up to perhaps 14 C.

    My local weather on Friday was cloudy and cold; highs were only about 4 C. The winter snow pack is starting to shrink gradually in this vicinity, but areas that were not plowed at any point still have over 30 cms on the ground, while the local valleys are now mainly snow-free. It has been an unusually dry March with cold nights and near average days here, so not much sign of spring yet.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Sunday, 29 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 29 March to 4 April 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values.
    -- Rainfall will average 10 to 25 per cent of normal.
    -- Sunshine will average near normal values.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be cold with a moderate east to northeast breeze 50 to 70 km/hr, and a mixture of cloud and sunshine, with more chance for sunshine further west as the source of most of the cloud is either the Irish Sea, or leftover cloud that formed over the North Sea and remained intact after crossing Britain where one or two wintry showers could fall. Some isolated wintry showers (hail more likely than snow) could develop in parts of north Leinster and east Ulster. Highs about 8 to 11 C with the warmer readings likely to be in west Munster and coastal Connacht.

    TONIGHT will be partly cloudy with longer clear intervals further west and in parts of the inland south, so frost might be a bit more likely there with lows in the range -2 to +3 C.

    MONDAY will be partly cloudy with morning frosts in some places, lows -2 to +3 C, and highs 9 to 12 C. Winds will drop off to a more light and variable pattern as this will be the closest approach of high pressure that is slowly sinking south to the west of Ireland. This will cut off the northeast flow and replace it with light north to northwest winds, then eventually later in the week, westerly winds.

    TUESDAY to THURSDAY will remain fairly similar, some colder air that was trying to get south will perhaps give east Ulster a glancing blow as it turns east over Scotland mid-week, so other than a gradual increase in westerly breezes, and some fairly extensive cloud in the north, the weather will stay rather cool and dry, with temperatures edging back towards more seasonable readings, possibly around 12-14 C by Thursday.

    The OUTLOOK calls for this settled pattern to break down gradually around the weekend of 4th-5th to southeast winds, cloud and some rain with temperatures staying around 12 C. Eventually it may become rather windy and showery with temperatures edging up to perhaps 14 C.

    My local weather on Saturday was overcast with a bit of sleet that left no accumulation, quite cold with highs only around 3 C.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Monday, 30 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 30 March to 5 April, 2020

    -- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal values.
    -- Rainfall will average around 25 per cent of normal values.
    -- Sunshine will average near or slightly less than average.

    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be cool but with less of a breeze, so in some sheltered spots it may feel a bit warmer. There will be considerable cloud in eastern counties, thinning out to partly cloudy skies central and sunny at times near the west coast. Highs will reach 10 C.

    TONIGHT will be partly cloudy, any clear intervals in the south may be frosty in a few spots. Lows -1 to +4 C.

    TUESDAY will be partly cloudy, mostly dry, but with some light and isolated showers near the north coast. Highs 10 to 12 C.

    WEDNESDAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, lows near 2 C and highs near 11 C. Some rain at times in Ulster and northern coastal districts of Connacht.

    THURSDAY will be mostly cloudy with showers becoming a bit more widespread in the north and sometimes reaching central counties, in a moderate westerly breeze of 40 to 60 km/hr. Lows near 4 C and highs near 12 C.

    FRIDAY and SATURDAY will be overcast and a bit milder with occasional rain and highs near 14 C.

    The outlook calls for a gradual warming trend next week with temperatures perhaps as high as 16 C by mid-week, and while there will likely be some rain, it won't be too heavy and some days may remain dry.

    My local weather on Sunday was cold with outbreaks of light snow passing through, highs only about 3 C.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Tuesday, 31 March, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 31 March to 6 April 2020

    -- Temperatures will average near normal values with a rising trend.
    -- Rainfall will average 50 to 75 per cent of normal, mostly towards end of the interval.
    -- Sunshine will average 75 per cent of normal values.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be partly cloudy, mostly dry, but with some light and isolated showers near the north coast. Highs 10 to 12 C.

    TONIGHT will be rather cloudy with lows 2 to 5 C.

    WEDNESDAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, lows near 2 C and highs near 11 C. Some rain at times in Ulster and northern coastal districts of Connacht.

    THURSDAY will be mostly cloudy with showers becoming a bit more widespread in the north and sometimes reaching central counties, in a moderate westerly breeze of 40 to 60 km/hr. Lows near 4 C and highs near 12 C.

    FRIDAY will also be mostly cloudy with a few outbreaks of light rain, more persistent in western coastal areas. Lows near 7 C and highs near 14 C.

    SATURDAY will be mild with occasional rain and highs near 15 C.

    SUNDAY will be breezy and mild with rain, possibly heavy towards the end of the day. Highs near 16 C.

    OUTLOOK for next week ... after a slight fall in temperature on Monday, there will be more mild days during the mid-week period and probably a bit more rain at times. This should promote a fairly steady evolution of spring vegetation cycles going into the Easter weekend.

    My local weather on Monday was quite changeable (as seen out the window) with passing showers of rain and snow pellets, highs around 4 C.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 14,280 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Wednesday, 1 April, 2020

    Forecasts for Ireland



    TRENDS for the week of 1 to 7 April, 2020


    -- Temperatures will average near normal values with a rising trend.
    -- Rainfall will average 75 to 100 per cent of normal, mostly around Sunday.
    -- Sunshine will average 75 per cent of normal values.


    FORECASTS

    TODAY will be cloudy with a few brighter intervals, and highs near 11 C. Some rain at times in Ulster and northern coastal districts of Connacht.

    TONIGHT will remain overcast with lows near 5 C. Sporadic outbreaks of light rain will make some southward progress from Ulster into northern counties of Connacht and Leinster.

    THURSDAY will be mostly cloudy with showers becoming a bit more widespread in the north and sometimes reaching central counties, in a moderate westerly breeze of 40 to 60 km/hr. Lows near 4 C and highs near 12 C.

    FRIDAY will also be mostly cloudy with a few outbreaks of light rain, more persistent in western coastal areas. Lows near 7 C and highs near 14 C. (The weak frontal band expected to drift south tonight and Thursday will stall out some time around mid-day Friday then will break up into fragmentary showers before drifting back north as a warm front Friday night and Saturday morning).

    SATURDAY will be mild with occasional rain and lows near 7 C, highs near 15 C.

    SUNDAY will be breezy and mild with rain, possibly heavy towards the end of the day. Lows 8 to 10 C and highs near 16 C. Winds southerly at 60 to 90 km/hr at times, possibly higher gusts near south coast.

    MONDAY will see the rain moving off to the east and partial clearing, somewhat colder at 12 C.

    The OUTLOOK for next week is for more mild weather to resume and temperatures could be into the 15 to 18 C range before Easter.

    My local weather remains cold with passing snow showers, highs only 3-5 C. An earthquake jolted the region (didn't feel it here), the epicentre was five hundred miles southeast of here in central Idaho (6.5) and a lot of people in the region did feel tremors and reported the usual minor damage, apparently nothing too serious even in towns close to the epicentre such as Twin Falls, ID. Had it not been for the travel restrictions, I would have been in Utah now and at the very least would be enjoying their weather more (19 C at Cedar City, UT today).


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