Hope in St Patrick's Day Met Éireann weather forecast

The lead into St Patrick's Day in Laois and the rest of Ireland features plenty of rain but there are signs of a clearance for the parades on Sunday, March 17.

Preparations are well underway around Laois with most of the organisers hoping for dry weather and not a repeat of the deluge that marked 2023. 

Met Éireann has issued some indications as to what to expect on St Patrick's Day. 

The extended range forecast from March 11 to 17 says low pressure to the south of Ireland and high pressure to the north will bring mixed conditions through week 1.

It says the south and east are likely to see wetter than average conditions through the week with drier than average conditions expected in the north and west. Mean temperatures are predicted to remain slightly above average, but closer to average in parts of the north and west. So in general, mild and wet in the south and east and drier in northern and western parts. 

The national forecast issued on March 12 says that current indications suggest conditions it may turn drier and clearer for St Patrick's Day with some sunny spells and scattered showers.

Before the weekend arrives, Met Éireann has extended a weather warning for Cork and Kerry. The Status Yellow rain warning for both counties now runs until 9am on Wednesday morning and warns of "spells of heavy rain at times during Monday, Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday morning."

The national outlook overview says it will be unsettled for the rest of the week with rain or showers.

National Forecast issued at 11.44am on Tuesday, March 12.

Tuesday: A mostly cloudy day overall. Rain will spread from the west, and become persistent and heavy at times in the southwest and west through the day. Breezy, with a moderate to fresh southwesterly wind, strong in the west and southwest. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees. Coastal flooding is possible due to unusually high tides.

A band of more persistent rain will move into the west and northwest early tonight and will move southeastwards overnight, becoming lighter and patchier. It will become dry with some clear spells in the northwest towards morning. Breezy with a moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly wind. Mild for much of the night with lowest temperatures of generally 7 to 11 degrees, becoming cooler towards morning in the northwest where temperatures will fall to 4 degrees locally.

Wednesday: The rain will gradually clear the northern half of the country through the morning and most areas will become dry for a time in the afternoon. It will be more of a dull and damp day further south where rain and drizzle will continue. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with a mostly light to moderate southwest to west wind, increasing fresh at times along northern and southern coasts. Again, coastal flooding is possible due to unusually high tides.

Rain will spread northwards over the country on Wednesday night. Lowest temperatures ranging between 4 degrees in the north to 10 degrees in the south, with light to moderate easterly or southerly winds.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy and unsettled with rain or showers continuing to feed in from the southwest. A few brighter intervals may develop, the best of which will be later in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees with a light to moderate southerly wind.

Staying mostly cloudy with further rain or showers through the night. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 13 degrees with a light to moderate southerly wind veering northerly.

Friday: Mostly cloudy with rain or showers in the morning but possibly becoming drier and brighter with some sunny periods later in the day. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees with light to moderate west to northwest winds.

Starting off mostly dry and clear Friday night before cloud builds from the southwest followed closely by rain that will spread northeastwards through the night. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with light variable winds.

Saturday: A wet day with rain or showers. Becoming drier and clearer towards the evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 13 degrees with a light southerly wind.

Further outlook: Current indications suggest conditions it may turn drier and clearer for St. Patrick's Day with some sunny spells and scattered showers.