Rain and drizzle will clear on Wednesday to make way for a bright morning with sunny spells. Don’t be fooled, however, as showers are expected to sweep in from the west by late morning with a possibility of hail and thunder.

Today will be blustery with fresh and gusty winds from the southwest, while temperatures are expected to range from eight degrees to 11 degrees this afternoon.

It will be cold tonight with a mix of clear spells and showers, which will be more prevalent in the western half of the country. Some of the showers will be heavy with a further risk of hail and thunder.

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Temperatures are likely to drop to as low as two degrees with winds possibly reaching gale force on Atlantic coasts.

Here’s how the forecast is looking for the rest of the week:

Thursday

Windy with widespread showers, some heavy and prolonged with the potential for hail and thunder. The lengthiest dry and sunny spells are expected across the east and southeast of the country. Highest temperatures of seven to 10 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, reaching gale force on Atlantic coasts.

On Thursday night, showery rain will push south over Ireland with clearer conditions following from the north later in the night. Lowest temperatures generally ranging from one to five degrees but a few degrees milder in the southwest and west. A fresh northwest breeze will develop overnight.

Friday

A bright and breezy day with plenty of sunshine and just a few passing showers. Maximum temperatures will range from nine to 12 degrees in a fresh northwest breeze. Cold on Friday night with a fairly widespread frost developing as winds fall light. Lowest temperatures of minus one to plus three degrees with patches of dense fog developing in some areas.

Saturday

Frost and fog will gradually clear during the morning with lots of sunshine expected for a time. However, cloud will build across the south of the country by afternoon with rain developing on the south coast by around lunchtime. Rain will then extend gradually northwards across Munster and Connacht on Saturday evening but holding mostly dry elsewhere.

Highest temperatures generally ranging from six to nine degrees but a little milder on the south coast with a moderate southeast breeze developing. On Saturday night, it will be largely dry in northern counties early on, and turning quite cold for a time with a touch of frost possible with lowest temperatures of one to four degrees. However, cloud and rain will push in towards dawn on Sunday. There will be outbreaks of rain elsewhere and it will be less cold with lowest temperatures of five to nine degrees.

Sunday

Breezy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle extending to all areas. A further spell of heavy rain will push in across the south later in the day. A milder day with highest temperatures of nine to 13 degrees in a fresh and gusty south or southeast breeze. Mild and breezy on Sunday night with rain clearing eastwards and scattered showers following from the west. Lowest temperatures of seven to 10 degrees in a fresh southwest breeze.

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