Mayday... as weekend set to be washout

It may be the first day of May but anybody expecting summer weather should think again or book a last-minute holiday.

Just to make matters worse, forecasters even predict a wet bank holiday weekend ahead. But spare a thought for our neighbours — last month was Britain’s wettest April in records dating back more than 100 years to 1910, according to its Met Office.

At home, after a particularly chilly and wet few days for the south and east, the rest of the week may bring a small reprieve, according to Met Éireann.

Meteorologist Eoin Sherlock said the weather over the last couple of days can be best described by dividing the country in two, with the north and west being the drier half.

“Munster and south Leinster have been experiencing rain because of low pressure from the south-east coast. It’s been quite windy as well, the winds are coming from the north-east, which makes it feel quite chilly.”

Heavy rain was due into south Leinster and Munster last night and will probably make its way to Connacht and Ulster by this evening.

By tomorrow and Thursday, the low pressure will have lost some of its influence and high pressure will bring slightly higher temperatures, reaching maybe 13C-17C, but best along the west coast, as north-east winds will keep the east coast cool.

Mr Sherlock said temperatures could get to 18C on Thursday but the warmth will probably not last to the weekend, as temperatures will fall again on Friday.

As showers move down from the north on Friday, temperatures will take a big dip into Saturday and Sunday, falling to around 7C to 9C, with a possibility they might remain in double figures in Connacht. However, rain will return to the south and east over the weekend, with higher-than-average rainfall likely.

Overnight temperatures at the weekend may even drop to near-freezing, with a possibility of grass frosts.

The mostly gloomy outlook follows a very cold and wet April in most parts of the country, with above-average rainfall recorded at many Met Éireann weather stations. Some parts of the country also had the lowest average temperatures for the month of April in six or seven years.