**Ireland sitting on the edge of a ridge of high pressure next week which will allow some rain to move in of the Atlantic especially over western and northern areas**

With another week nearly over in what has been a very cold one for the time of year with temperatures below average the good news is that temperatures will return more to normal next week with above average temperatures for some places next week for may time.

The coldest temperatures over the week was recorded at Katesbridge and Castlederg both broke their May low temperature records over the week falling to -6.1 °C and -3.9 °C

Katesbridge weather station in Northern Ireland is known as the Icebox of Northern Ireland and makes the news on a number of occasions during the year due to the cold temperatures it records compared to other places.

But there is a reason why the weather station in Co. Down records such low temperatures

The Katesbridge weather site lies in a natural bowl in which under clear, calm conditions, radiational cooling takes place with the enhancement of cooling air running off the surrounding countryside collecting at the bottom of the bowl. Note that colder air is heavy and lies in lower areas.

The good news for some farmers and gardeners is that there is rain expected over the next 48 hours across parts of Ireland but amounts will vary depending on your location.

Sunday

Sunday will see light rain or drizzle in places with the biggest amounts expected across the west and north of Ireland with conditions across parts of the east and south east holding nearly dry with some sunny spells. Temperatures on Monday will range between 12C to 18C

Monday

Monday will see some rain and drizzle again across Connacht and Ulster with some of these showers possibly turning heavy, Elsewhere it will stay mostly dry but it will be a mainly cloudy day again across Ireland. Temperatures on Monday will range between 15/16C to 20C warmest in the east.

Tuesday

Tuesday will be a warm day with further showers across parts of Connacht and Ulster with drier weather across Leinster and Munster where there will be some bright and sunny spells. Towards the evening time showers will clear the west and north with dry weather for all areas with bright and sunny spells developing. Temperatures will range between 17C to 23C.

Wednesday

Wednesday will see bright and sunny spells everywhere to start and it will be a warm day with temperatures between 17C to 23C, later in the afternoon and evening the latest indications is for rain to move into western areas and spreading eastwards across Ireland over the evening and night.

Thursday

Thursday will see the risk of isolated thunderstorms across Ireland with heavy thundery showers and the risk of some spot or flash flooding. At present the greatest risk is across the west, midlands and north but this can still change.

Friday

At present there is a lot of uncertainty on the forecast from Friday onwards and this is due to that some models show the risk of a storm moving close to Ireland or even over Ireland. I will have more on this evening on another post.