Easter washout forecast with possible thunderstorms and frost
Met Éireann has forecast heavy showers, hail and isolated thunderstorms
Isolated thunderstorms, hail and frost have been forecast for the Easter weekend, in a mixed forecast from Met Éireann.
There will be a cold and wet start to the Easter Bank Holiday, with heavy showers bringing the possibility of isolated thunderstorms, Met Éireann has forecast with a possibility of frost.
It will be a cold and frosty start for some with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers mainly affecting the southern half of the country at first this morning.
Later on Friday morning and into the afternoon more cloud will build and showers will become more widespread.
It is forecast that some of the showers will be heavy and of hail with isolated thunderstorms possible. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.
There will be a good deal of dry weather overnight with clear spells and just isolated showers.
However, more frequent showers will develop in the south towards dawn.
Saturday night will see a mix of clear spells and isolated showers at first. Those showers will clear to the north early in the night and it will briefly turn drier. However, further showers or longer spells of rain will develop in the south and spread northwards overnight. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds.
Easter Sunday will be quite cloudy at times with continued showers, turning heavy in some places. Brighter and sunnier conditions will develop for a time in the afternoon.
However, it will be milder with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds.
Sunday night will see further showers or longer spells of rain will move across Munster and south Connacht through the night with isolated showers continuing elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees in light easterly winds.
It will continue to be wet across the south and west into Easter Monday, with drier and brighter weather in the north and east. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light to moderate easterly or variable winds.