Weekend forecast gives glimmer of hope with 'dry periods' for a few hours on this day

The weather will be mostly cloudy on Friday with a few bright spells.

After a dry start for many, scattered outbreaks of rain will develop in the west during the morning before spreading eastwards during the afternoon and evening.

The southeast will have a mostly dry day. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees. Southwest winds will freshen on Atlantic coasts, light to moderate winds elsewhere.

National Outlook

Overview: Rather unsettled with spells of rain at times.

Friday night: Wet Friday night with outbreaks of rain. Mild with lowest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds, breezier along western and southern coasts.

Saturday: A wet and cloudy day on Saturday with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Humid, with top temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees. Southwest winds will be fresh to strong along southern coasts, light to moderate elsewhere.

Saturday night: Further spells of rain are expected on Saturday night, along with limited dry periods. Lowest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees with light to moderate west to northwest winds, fresh along coasts.

Sunday: Wet and cloudy to start on Sunday with outbreaks of rain. The rain will gradually clear from northern and western counties during the morning, but is likely to linger in the east and south for a time. Maximum temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees with a moderate to fresh northerly breeze developing.

Monday: Likely a mostly dry day with sunny spells and just light scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees with mostly light northwesterly breezes.

Further Outlook: Staying quite unsettled again from Tuesday onwards.