CLOUDY GREY SKIES have seemed to be a constant feature of Irish weather recently, but it looks like the sun might shine again this week, while a rare weather pattern is keeping rain away until the weekend.

“Mostly cloudy” is still the best description of the forecast for this week, but “bright intervals” are also making their way into the forecast, according to Met Éireann.

The silver lining of all the cloudiness is that it has been caused by an omega block of high pressure, which will prevent heavy rain for a couple of days.

The weather pattern, which is named after the Greek letter, creates a dome of high pressure which locks out rain clouds.

Met Éireann forecasts that the weather will be mainly dry and mostly cloudy this week with patchy drizzle or mist at times, with rain predicted to develop at the weekend.

The average highest temperatures during the week will range between 12 to 15 degrees, while lowest temperatures of six degrees.

Forecast

Today and tonight will be mainly dry and mostly cloudy with patches of mist and drizzle.

Positively, the national forecaster said a “few bright intervals” may develop through the day.

Wednesday day and night will also be mostly cloudy and mainly dry with patches of mist and drizzle and with a few bright or sunny intervals during the day.

Thursday and Friday will both be mainly dry with a good deal of cloud and few bright intervals. Patchy drizzle and some patches of mist are possible.

The nights will also be mostly cloudy and mainly dry with some drizzle at times.

The dry spell will end on Saturday morning, when rain will develop in the west and southwest and gradually spread northeastwards through the afternoon and evening.

Further showers are predicted for Monday, with mixed weather and rain to continue for the week.