Rain and risk of hail forecast for Easter bank holiday weekend

The weather is set to be unsettled for the Easter period, with rain, showers and the possibility of hail forecast for much of the bank holiday weekend.

At what is normally a busy time for travel and socialising, Irish people will begin the long weekend with cloud and scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle on Good Friday.

However, according to Met Éireann, it will brighten up and become drier through the day, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers developing. Highest temperatures on Friday will be between 13 and 17 degrees.

Lingering showers are set to die out early on Friday night, with the weather becoming mostly dry with long clear spells. Some mist and fog will develop overnight, with temperatures dropping to between 4 and 7 degrees.

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Saturday will begin with mostly dry conditions, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, and some drizzle near the south coast.

A spell of rain will spread over the western half of the country through the day, being heaviest and most persistent in the southwest.

The east of the country will likely stay dry and bright until the evening. Highest temperatures during the day will be between 12 and 16 degrees.

Saturday night will be cloudy, with outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards across the country and occasionally turning heavy.

Rain will be persistent in southern counties overnight, with lowest temperatures in general of 9 to 11 degrees in a light to moderate southerly breeze.

Sunday morning

Rain will continue throughout Sunday morning, before eventually clearing east during the day.

It will be followed by widespread showers, turning heavy at times in the afternoon with the chance of hail.

Highest temperatures on Easter Sunday will be between 12 and 15 degrees.

Conditions will dry on Sunday night, although scattered showers will feature in western coastal areas. The weather will turn colder, with lowest temperatures overnight of 3 to 6 degrees.

The cool temperatures will continue on Monday, when there will be a mix of sunny spells, showers and possibly some heavy hail.

Highest temperatures on Monday will be between 9 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds.

The national forecaster said it would stay cooler and generally unsettled for the early part of next week, with showers or spells of rain at times.