Friday

Friday will see brighter spells developing, with mostly dry weather following overnight rainfall. Met Éireann has forecast a few showers across Ulster and Connacht.

It will be a blustery day, with fresh to strong southwesterly winds, reaching gale force on western and northern coasts later. Staying relatively mild, with afternoon highs of 11°C to 13°C.

There will be frequent showers overnight in the north and west, with mostly dry and clear spells elsewhere. Minimum temperatures 5°C to 7°C in fresh to strong southwesterly winds, with gales continuing on western and northern coasts.

Saturday

It will be mainly dry for Munster and Leinster on Saturday, with sunny spells. However, there will be persistent rain and drizzle for much of Connacht and Ulster, slowly clearing to the north coast after dark. Highs of 8°C or 9°C in brisk westerly winds, strong on coasts.

Rain is forecast to arrive in the southwest early on Saturday night and quickly spread northwards, reaching the north coast by dawn.

Frost will form in the northern half of the country early in the night, as temperatures dip close to freezing here, milder further south due to the rain.

Sunday

It will be a dull and damp start over much of the country on Sunday, with showers of rain, with sleet possible over high ground. Some bright spells Sunday afternoon, but showers will be widespread and will linger through much of the day, retreating to the west and north during the evening.

Quite cold in the north, with afternoon temperatures only reaching 4°C to 7°C, milder further south with highs of 10°C to 12°C in blustery southwesterly winds becoming fresh to strong on coasts.

Management notes

Beef

In this week's beef management notes, Adam Woods takes a look at BDGP, compensatory growth and changes to calving difficulty figures.

Dairy

For dairy farmers, Aidan Brennan has some advice on bull selection, calving and heifers.

Sheep

Sheep editor Darren Carty runs through antibiotic usage, the protein content of meal and has a reminder on sheep census forms.

Tillage

Stephen Robb takes a look at winter crops, planting and the news that a derogation will be available on a case-by-case basis for some growers.