As we head into the weekend, Ireland is bracing for more wet and windy conditions, with Met Éireann warning of persistent rain and breezy spells across much of the country.
It’s been a soggy start to February across Ireland, with wet and chilly conditions dominating much of the month so far.
A yellow rain warning was in effect until 11pm on Wednesday for counties including Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford, keeping the country under persistent showers and damp conditions.
In the north, a status yellow rain and snow warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry expired at 8pm on Wednesday, giving locals a brief reprieve from the wintry mix.
The combination of cold air and frequent rain has made for a damp start to 2026, with many asking when the country might finally see a proper dry spell.
While temperatures have been below average for the time of year in some areas, the ongoing rain has kept rivers and reservoirs high, and outdoor plans have often been disrupted.
Farmers and gardeners alike have been keeping a close eye on the forecast, hoping for at least a few dry days.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Friday will start off cloudy and wet, with widespread rain that will turn heavy at times.
The rain is expected to gradually clear eastwards through the morning, making way for some sunny spells and scattered showers moving in from the west.
However, it won’t stay dry for long, with cloud increasing again from the southwest during the afternoon and further outbreaks of rain spreading northeastwards through the evening. Top temperatures will range from 9 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh, occasionally strong southwesterly winds.
Friday night will remain cloudy with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle, although southern areas will turn drier overnight. It will stay windy, with fresh to strong southwest winds, and it’ll be a notably mild night for the time of year, with lows of 6 to 10 degrees.
Saturday looks set to be another largely cloudy day, with more spells of rain, though these will become more isolated towards the evening.
Highest temperatures will hit between 10 and 13 degrees in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.
On Saturday night, clearer conditions will develop for a time in the north, but elsewhere it will stay mostly cloudy with isolated showers, particularly in the north and west. Temperatures won’t dip below 6 to 9 degrees.
Sunday will bring brighter conditions overall, but it will stay windy, with scattered showers feeding in from the west. Highs of 9 to 12 degrees are expected in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.
Overall, it’s an unsettled few days ahead, so keep the raincoat handy if you’re heading out.
