Sunshine to return today after a brief absence as weather freshens up once again

After the weather temporarily broke yesterday to unleash some heavy rainfall around the country, the humidity has lifted somewhat today and a return of the sunshine is on the cards.

Largely dry to begin over the eastern half of the country today with some sunshine. Scattered showers over western counties will spread eastwards this afternoon though, with those showers turning locally heavy with a risk of thunder. Cooler than recent days with highs of 14-18 degrees and southwest winds will be moderate in strength but fresh to strong and gusty along the southeast coast.

Showers will merge to rain in southwest this evening and tonight, and this rain will spread northeastwards over the country overnight, turning heavy in places will a continuing risk of thunder and localised flooding. A clearance will develop in southern Munster later in the night. Light to moderate cyclonic variable winds, but strong and gusty west to southwest winds along southern and southeastern coasts. Lows of 8-12 degrees overnight.