Met Éireann in major weather u-turn after storms but it's not all good news

Met Éireann is predicting a major weather u-turn in Ireland this week after two storms ravaged the country over the weekend.

Storm Elin on Saturday was followed by Storm Fergus on Sunday, bringing strong winds, rain and even a devastating tornado to Leitrim. 

In a nice change, Met Éireann is predicting "less windy and drier" weather by midweek but it will be "remaining unsettled with rain or showers early on" this week. It also looks like wet weather will return for the weekend.

"Monday morning will be mainly dry with some sunny spells. Rain will develop in the west and southwest around noon and will spread eastwards through the afternoon and evening, becoming heavy at times. Staying dry though in much of the north and east until after dark. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with freshening south to southeast winds," Met Éireann predicts.

"Early tonight [Monday], rain will continue to move northeastwards, mainly affecting Leinster and Ulster. It will clear to the northeast with clear spells and scattered showers following. Some of the showers will be heavy with a risk of hail and a slight chance of thunder, especially in parts of the west and south. Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds will become southerly and decrease mostly light, with some mist and fog forming. Lowest temperatures 3 to 7 degrees.

"The mist and fog will slowly clear tomorrow morning [Tuesday] and early afternoon, but it will remain mostly cloudy for the day. There'll be some scattered showers too, and a few will be heavy especially early on, but overall a good deal of dry weather. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees with light, variable breezes, becoming northwesterly later and freshening in coastal parts of the west.

"Tuesday night will start off mostly cloudy with some scattered showers. It will become mainly dry overnight. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate northerly winds.

"Wednesday will be mainly dry with a fair amount of cloud and some sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with light variable breezes. Wednesday night will start off cold and dry with clear spells and with frost in some eastern areas. Rain will develop in the west and will spread eastwards overnight. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees.

"On Thursday morning rain will clear quickly. The rest of the day will be mainly dry with some bright or sunny spells and a few showers. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees, with mostly light westerly winds. Thursday night will be mainly dry with lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees."

Looking to later in the week and the weekend, Met Éireann forecasters say: "Friday and Saturday will both be mild, breezy and mostly cloudy with a fair amount of dry weather and with patchy rain or drizzle at times. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees with moderate to fresh southwest winds.

"At the moment it looks like rain will move in from the west on Sunday next," they concluded.