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 issued by the forecaster to hit Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly on Tuesday with more heavy showers due to hit on Thursday.

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

Met Éireann forecast.

Tuesday: Largely dry with variable cloud and sunshine to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, but showers will soon develop, some of them heavy with spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms possible. Cloud will gradually build from the southwest during the afternoon and patchy rain and drizzle will push into Munster during the evening. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in light southerly or variable breezes.

Mostly cloudy conditions on Tuesday night with patchy rain and drizzle across southern parts of the country will gradually clear southwards overnight, with the largely dry and clear conditions elsewhere following down from the north. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees, in light variable breezes with some areas of mist and shallow fog forming around dawn.

Wednesday: Any residual cloud and patchy rain and drizzle in the south will soon clear on Wednesday morning to leave a dry and mostly sunny day with just the chance of a few showers bubbling up in southern counties. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees generally, but cooler in north Ulster with highest temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees there, due to the light to moderate north to northwest breezes, which will be fresh at times along northern and western coasts. Patchy cloud and clear breaks on Wednesday night with isolated mist patches around dawn. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in light to moderate northwest breezes.

Thursday: Thursday will be another largely dry day 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 maxima elsewhere will range 17 to 21 degrees.

Friday: Still some uncertainty for this lead-time but current indications suggest another mainly dry day in the east with sunny spells before cloud increases later. Mostly cloudy conditions in the west, however, with outbreaks of rain pushing in from the Atlantic later in the day. Highest temperatures 14 to 18 degrees in light to moderate variable breezes.

Weekend: Mixed and changeable with spells of rain or showers but some brighter, sunnier spells too. Temperatures returning to near average in a southwest to west airflow.

Mixed and changeable with spells of rain or showers but some brighter, sunnier spells too. Temperatures returning to near average in a southwest to west airflow.