Met Éireann forecasts cool and cloudy St Patrick's Day before big temperature jump this week

As thousands of people take to the streets for St. Patrick's Day celebrations across Ireland, the weather looks set to cooperate for the most part.

While today will be predominantly dry, overcast skies and cool temperatures will be the theme of the day, according to Met Éireann.

The national forecaster predicts a largely cloudy St. Patrick's Day with only isolated showers, mainly in Munster and south Leinster. While sunshine may be in short supply, the good news is that conditions will remain stable, with little risk of heavy rain disrupting parades.

Temperatures range from 7 to 10 degrees, and a light to moderate east to southeast breeze will make it feel a touch cooler. However, the bigger weather story is coming later this week as spring is finally set to arrive, bringing a much-needed warm spell.

By midweek, Ireland could see temperatures soar as high as 16 degrees, making for the warmest conditions of the year.

Met Éireann is forecasting "spells of warm sunshine" on Thursday, although there is some uncertainty heading into the weekend, with more unsettled weather expected.
For now, those heading out to celebrate Ireland's national holiday should wrap up but can at least enjoy a relatively calm day weather-wise.
Met Éireann's Forecast

Monday: St. Patrick's Day is set to be a mostly dry but cloudy day with limited sunshine. A few scattered light showers are possible, mainly in Munster and south Leinster. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees, with light to moderate easterly winds making it feel a little cooler.

Monday night: Remaining mostly dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells. Some light showers may persist along the southern and eastern coasts. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees with light easterly breezes.

Tuesday: Another largely dry day with isolated showers, most likely in the southwest. Some sunny spells will develop in the morning before becoming more widespread later in the day. Temperatures will remain on the cool side, between 7 and 10 degrees, with moderate east to southeast winds.

Wednesday: A turning point in the forecast, as milder air moves in. Plenty of sunshine is expected, particularly in the morning, with just some patchy cloud at times. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees, though eastern and northeastern areas may remain slightly cooler.

Thursday: The warmest day of the year so far, as temperatures rise to between 12 and 16 degrees with spells of hazy sunshine.

Friday and beyond: Some uncertainty remains, but Friday is expected to be breezy with increasing cloud cover and scattered showers, particularly in the west and southwest. Temperatures will still reach between 12 and 14 degrees.

Looking ahead, the weekend is shaping up to be unsettled, with rain in the forecast, though high pressure may return early next week.

READ MORE | Taoiseach Micheal Martin has 'unfinished business' as he rules out run for Irish presidency