West set for best of Easter weather

It looks like those heading west for the Easter holiday break will probably get the best of the weather.

Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly said the pleasant weather seen during the week was likely to continue over the weekend. However, there would be a break in the weather later on Sunday and into Monday, with rain coming from the east.

"The west and north-west usually get the rain, whereas this weekend they will be getting the better weather because of the easterly flow," said Ms Donnelly.

The mainly dry and settled weather will continue today with good sunny spells, but it will be slightly cloudier in the west. Top temperatures will range between 12 and 15 degrees with light variable winds. Tonight will remain dry with just a few spots of drizzle along western coasts.

While tomorrow will have a cool start, it will be a largely dry day, with perhaps some very light showers along parts of the west coast.

Met Éireann is predicting a dry, chilly start to Easter Sunday, with rain moving into parts of Leinster later in the afternoon. Elsewhere, it will remain dry but will become cloudy. Highs of 11 to 15 degrees in moderate northerly winds are forecast. The rain will affect much of Leinster and east Ulster on Sunday night, but it will be much milder though with lows of six to eight degrees.

Monday will have a mix of patchy rain and drizzle in southern coastal counties and also in parts of Ulster. It will be drier elsewhere with some bright spells. Highest temperatures will range from 11 to 15 degrees.

Meanwhile, Tom Hayes, minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, reminded forest owners and managers, farmers, and the general public that a high risk of wildfires exists during the current spell of good weather.

The department has issued a "Condition Orange" high risk alert.