Warmer and drier - weather relief at last in Met Éireann forecast

There is weather relief at last on the horizon in the Met Éireann extended outlook forecast for the coming weeks and months.

The monthly forecast covering the period from April 15 to May 12 looks set to bring weather that will finally spell an end to incessant rain and cold conditions that have left the country saturated.

Met Éireann expects week one, from  April 15 to 21, to feature below-average rain. It says low pressure to the north of Ireland and high pressure to the south will mean that most rain will be further north. It says temperatures will be around average.

Met Éireann expects week two, April 22 to  28,  to bring higher than average atmospheric pressure over Ireland. It says this should mean below average rain and above average temperatures.

As for week three, April 29 to May 5, Met Éireann says it doesn't expect any significant atmospheric pressure anomaly. It says this means that there could be a mix of low pressure and high pressure days with some rain or showers at times and rainfall amounts around average. Temperatures should be above average.

Met Éireann's forecast for week four, May 6 to 12,  is similar to week three.

As to the seasonal outlook for April, May and June, Met Éireann says the signs so far are for slightly above average temperatures. It says rainfall is likely to be above or close to average overall.

Met Éireann says that as mean temperatures during the months are signalled to be above average overall, all three months are likely to trend between 0.5 and 1.0°C above normal, with the strongest signals for May and June. 

However, Met Éireann says there is the possibility of colder outbreaks from the north and northeast at times at the beginning of the period in April.

The rainfall forecast is less certain, with the likelihood of wetter than average conditions in April, though there is the potential for drier spells in May and June.

The sea surface temperatures around Irish coasts and over the Atlantic are expected to continue slightly above average.

Met Éireann says its extended forecasts should not be used for specific planning purposes as they have generally low skill compared with the 10-day forecast.