Met Éireann has forecast an unsettled weekend for Ireland, with rain, gusts and a risk of spot flooding in Atlantic coastal counties on Friday (October 2), followed by a largely dry Saturday with highs of up to 20°.

The contrast matters for farmers balancing harvest, grazing and slurry work: Friday brings the worst of the weather, Saturday offers the best working window, and rain returns from the west on Sunday afternoon.

Friday: heavy rain and gusts, then clearing

This morning starts a little cloudy and breezy, with a few showers peppering western coasts. It will become overcast later as a band of rain moves in over Atlantic coastal counties.

The rain will be heavy at times, with some spot flooding possible and strong gusts, before it gradually spreads eastwards through the afternoon.

The rain is set to clear early in the evening as winds ease and dry weather follows. Highest temperatures will reach 13° to 17°.

Tonight will be largely dry and clear with light westerly winds. It will be a little cooler, with lowest temperatures of 4° to 8° — cold enough to slow grass growth on higher ground.

Saturday: the pick of the weekend

Tomorrow (Saturday, October 3) will be largely dry with plenty of sunny spells and light southerly breezes. A little cloud will drift in later in the afternoon, making the sunshine hazy, but highs of 17° to 20° make it the warmest day of the period.

Saturday night will be mainly dry apart from the odd spot of light rain or drizzle in the northwest. It will be a little cloudy in the northwest, with longer clear spells further south. Some patchy mist and fog will form in the south, with lows of 7° to 12° in light to moderate southwest winds — fog that could slow early transport on Sunday morning in southern counties.

Sunday: rain returns from the west

A little more cloud will build on Sunday (October 4), with outbreaks of rain over the western half of the country. It will stay mainly dry elsewhere for a time, until patchy rain arrives later in the evening. Winds will be moderate southwesterly, with highs of 16° to 19°.

Sunday night will be cloudy and damp, with patchy mist and drizzle across western counties while some patchy rain drifts further east. Southwesterly breezes will continue, with lowest temperatures of 11° to 13°.

Monday and Tuesday: more rain before it dries out

Monday morning (October 5) will be a little cloudy and wet, but the patchy rain should clear later in the morning. Some sunny spells will develop, mainly in the north, while a band of more persistent rain moves in across the south. Southwesterly breezes will be moderate, with highs of 16° to 19°.

Met Éireann said current indications for Tuesday (October 6) point to an unsettled day, followed by drier weather later in the evening. Highest temperatures will be around 15° to 18°.

For field planning, the practical read is straightforward: Saturday is the day to target for machinery work and stock handling, with Friday evening and early Sunday offering secondary windows before the western rain arrives. Farmers should watch for updated forecasts on Monday, as the timing of the southern rain band and the arrival of drier conditions on Tuesday evening remain the key variables for the week ahead.