Met Éireann forecasts a big weather break as drought days dwindle

While thunderstorms have broken the fine spell for some Met Éireann has officially forecast when the early summer weather heatwave that has also brought drought to Ireland is going to end.

Status Yellow thunderstorm warnings were declared for Monday on Tuesday with Laois included in both. Met Éireann warned that spot flooding and lightning damage could result from Tuesday's storms.

While mainly dry and sunny weather is due to return through the midweek, Met Éireann has put the country on notice for mixed and changeable conditions to sweep in from the Atlantic over the weekend.

The forecasters' farming section says that over the next seven days, rainfall amounts will become more mixed with amounts in most areas forecasted above average. Rain amounts are expected to vary from 10mm (63% of average) in the south to 40mm (295% of average) in the west.

Met Éireann's Atlantic precipitation and pressure charts also show rain belts sweeping across Ireland though to the later days of May as the June Bank Holiday weekend approaches. MORE BELOW VIDEO FROM UK MET OFFICE.

The question on many people's minds is: When will it rain?

The answer is increasingly looking to be: This weekend

☔️ pic.twitter.com/lnBT9Bnzrs

— Met Office (@metoffice) May 19, 2025

National Forecast issued at 9.49 on May 20.

Tuesday: Showers will develop over the southern half of the country, becoming more widespread this afternoon. Some showers will be heavy with thunderstorms and spot flooding possible. Light rain or drizzle will develop in the southwest this afternoon. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees in a light southerly or variable breeze.

Heavy showers will continue in places overenight with patchy rain and drizzle over the southern half of the country. Becoming largely dry by morning with clear spells developing, though mist and fog will develop in places. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in a light variable breeze.

Wednesday: Mist and fog will clear along with any lingering patchy rain in the southeast, leaving a dry and sunny day with just the chance of a few showers in the south. Highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees generally but cooler near northern coasts in light to moderate northerly winds.

The night will be dry with isolated mist patches around dawn. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in light to moderate northwest breezes.

Thursday: Largely dry with patchy cloud and sunny spells and just the odd light shower possible. Light to moderate northerly winds will bring a fresher feel to northern parts of Ulster and Connacht as well as near the Leinster coast with highest temperatures of just 14 to 16 degrees, but ranging from 17 to 21 degrees elsewhere.

Friday: Starting off dry with sunny spells. Cloud will increase from the west. Rain or drizzle will develop in the west towards evening and spread eastwards. Amounts will be small. Highest temperatures 14 to 18 degrees with light to moderate variable breezes. Friday night will be mostly cloudy with patchy light rain, drizzle at first and with more persistent rain spreading eastwards overnight. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees.

Saturday: The morning will be mostly cloudy with rain in most areas. The rain will gradually clear eastwards with scattered showers following from the west. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees with moderate to fresh southerly winds becoming southwesterly as rain clears.

Sunday: A bright day with sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the west. It will be cooler and fresher with highest temperatures of 12 to 6 degrees and fresh, gusty west to southwest winds.

Early next week will continue cool and mixed with rain or showers at times.