LAST UPDATE | 26 Feb

IF IT FEELS like it hasn’t stopped raining since the Christmas decorations came down, that’s because in some parts of the country it hasn’t.

Ireland is set for a wet and blustery start to meteorological spring this weekend, with unsettled conditions continuing after what has already been an exceptionally soggy stretch.

In Valentia, Co Kerry, rain has been recorded for 57 consecutive days.

According to Met Éireann, today will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming widespread through the morning.

The rain will gradually clear to the southeast, though it may linger along southern and eastern coasts. Elsewhere, brighter conditions will develop with scattered showers and occasional sunny spells.

Highest temperatures today will range from 9 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong at times near coasts.

Tonight will remain mostly cloudy, with rain and drizzle persisting in southern and eastern fringes. Elsewhere, it will be largely dry apart from isolated showers in the north.

Friday will begin cloudy, with patchy rain and drizzle in southern and eastern counties before clearer conditions push in from the northwest.

Sunny spells and scattered showers will follow, some turning heavy with a chance of hail.

Friday night is expected to be dry and frosty, with long clear spells leading to widespread frost and icy patches. Temperatures could fall as low as -3 degrees.

Saturday will start bright and crisp for many, though cloud and rain will spread eastwards from the Atlantic through the day, followed by scattered showers. 

Sunday marks the beginning of meteorological spring, the seasonal system used by national weather services worldwide, which aligns seasons with calendar months and temperature patterns.

It will arrive in characteristically Atlantic fashion, with a wet and blustery day forecast.

Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, are expected, along with fresh to strong south to southwest winds and coastal gales.

Looking ahead to Monday, rain will clear eastwards early in the day before further cloud and patchy rain move in from the west.