UPDATE: Met Éireann's weather forecast for rest of the week is in and it's bad news

Met Éireann is predicting unsettled weather for Ireland as we head towards the weekend and the end of the month.

Our weather has been largely dry in the last few weeks but things are taking a turn with week wit more persistent rain making its presence felt over the country.

Met Éireann's Tuesday forecast says: "Patchy light rain and drizzle will clear southwards this morning. Mostly cloudy for a time, before gradually brightening up with sunshine developing in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in a light northwest or variable breeze.

"Cold and dry tonight [Tuesday] with long clear spells at first, before cloud builds from the west by morning. Patches of mist and fog will form in light southwest or variable breezes. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees."

They say "areas of mist will clear to sunny spells [on Wednesday], the best of these in the south and east. More persistent rain will move into the northwest later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in light to moderate southwesterly winds, freshening in the northwest later.

"Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west and northwest gradually extending southeastwards and becoming mainly light and patchy [on Wednesday night]. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees with light southwest of variable winds.

"Mostly cloudy and breezy with patchy rain and drizzle on Thursday. More persistent rain will develop in Atlantic coastal counties towards evening. Highest temperatures 10 to 13 degrees with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, increasing strong at times near Atlantic coasts," the forecast adds.

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"Outbreaks of rain will spread countrywide early on Thursday night, with clear spells and scattered showers following from the west. Some of the showers could be heavy with hail. Moderate to fresh southwest winds will veer southwest to west with the clearance of the rain. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees.

"Cool with sunny spells and widespread showers [on Friday]. Some of the showers may be heavy with the chance of hail. Moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds, strong near Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees.

"Wet on Saturday with rain spreading from the west through the morning. Rain will clear from the west later on with sunshine and showers following for the evening. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees with fresh westerlies developing, veering northwest and strengthening towards nightfall," it concludes.