Deirdre O Meara March is proving to be a relentless month of heavy rain and strong winds as the month draws to a close.
The morning of Tuesday 28th March saw a miserable start to the day, with torrential rain and wintry temperatures leading to a series of car crashes on busy routes. Gardai responded to incidents on Carr’s Hill on the Carrigaline Road, Watergrasshill, and the Kinsale Road, where a minor accident still caused severe delays.
Thankfully, conditions are set to improve later today, from around lunchtime on, when the worst of the rain clouds will break up and move on. Unfortunately, the rest of the week is set to remain unsettled, with very heavy rain showers, the possibility of thunderstorms and (around Thursday night) the possibility of very high winds and torrential rain.
The good news is that there is hope of spring finally arriving next week. A slowly developing high-pressure system out in the Atlantic is bringing the possibility of sunnier, more settled weather from the start of April.
For the coming days, however, Ireland will be stuck in a cycle of rain, wind, some sunny spells, more wind and more rain. Temperatures are set to creep up to the 14-15C mark for much of Munster, and overnight temperatures will stay in the high single digits, as warm as 10C in the early hours of the morning.
Met Eireann’s latest forecast for Munster for Tuesday 28th March is for cloudy conditions in the morning with rain clearing to scattered showers, followed by sunny spells and the potential for the odd heavier shower. Winds will be moderate to fresh and gusty south to southwest winds, easing later.
The outlook for Wednesday 29th March is for a wet start with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, clearing to showers by afternoon, some of which will be heavy and possibly thundery. Another mild day is expected with highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees and blustery in fresh and gusty southwest winds, increasing strong at times.
Wednesday night will see showers easing and becoming more scattered, with dry and clear spells developing, particularly over the eastern half of the country. Scattered showers will continue to feed into Atlantic coastal counties, with lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, freshening towards morning.
Thursday will bring widespread showers and some sunny spells with the potential for some heavy downpours. It will turn cloudier later in the day with rain pushing into the southwest. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees are expected in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.
Outbreaks of rain will spread northwards overnight on Thursday night, heaviest and most persistent in southern counties, with lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds, backing westerly later.
Friday will be a dull and damp morning with outbreaks of rain for most. The rain will clear eastwards through the day, followed from the west by widespread heavy showers. Highest temperatures 10 to 13 in moderate to fresh westerly winds are expected.
Saturday will start with some dry and bright spells, before showery rain spreads eastwards across the country. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees are expected in a moderate northwest breeze.
High pressure is expected to have a greater influence over the country on Sunday and early next week. It will be drier overall but a few light showers and patches of rain may develop at times.
