Easter Bank Holiday Weather: Rain, Wind & Cold Forecast for Ireland

Ireland is bracing for a wet and windy Easter weekend, with Met Éireann forecasting a shift in weather patterns bringing rain, strong winds, and the possibility of wintry showers.

Tuesday began with dull conditions and scattered patches of rain and drizzle, though some sunny intervals are anticipated. Temperatures are expected to reach between 11C and 14C. Overnight, conditions will remain cloudy with light rain, drizzle, and mist, and temperatures falling to between 6C and 10C.

Wednesday will see a continuation of cloudy skies and patchy drizzle, spreading southeastwards throughout the day. Drier conditions and spells of sunshine are expected to follow from the northwest, with daytime highs of 10C to 14C before temperatures cool as the rain clears. Wednesday night will bring clearer spells, but also a risk of frost, with lows potentially reaching -2C in some areas.

Thursday is forecast to be chilly and mostly cloudy, with the best of any sunshine expected in the south and east. Outbreaks of rain are likely, although some areas may remain dry, with temperatures reaching 10C. Thursday night will be cloudy and breezy, with outbreaks of rain expected across most of the country.

Good Friday is currently subject to some uncertainty, but Met Éireann indicates a high probability of a windy day with strong winds and gales, particularly along western and northwestern coasts. This could lead to wave overtopping, alongside periods of rain and showers. Daytime temperatures are expected to range from 11C to 15C.

Friday night will see a transition to clearer spells and scattered showers early on, before conditions become cloudier and temperatures drop to as low as 3C.

Saturday carries the potential for wet and windy weather, with highs of 10C to 13C. However, a rapid temperature drop is anticipated during the evening. Rain will give way to clear spells and scattered showers, with some of these showers potentially turning wintry as temperatures fall to between 0C and 3C.

The outlook for Easter Sunday remains somewhat uncertain, but current forecasts suggest cool and blustery conditions with sunny spells and scattered showers. Conditions could then turn wet and windy again on Sunday night into Monday, according to Met Éireann. A “mobile Atlantic regime” is expected to dominate the weather pattern for several days, bringing areas of low pressure and blustery conditions, according to the Irish Times.

Met Éireann meteorologist Matthew Martin has stated that a cold front will introduce colder air from the Arctic from Easter Sunday night and through much of next week, bringing the chance of hail, sleet and snow. The cold airmass will introduce the chance of wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow on Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday, with temperatures limited to around 3 to 7 Celsius.