Very cold but dry for Kildare today as the county escapes heavy rain

It's set to be brisk and bright for most of today around Kildare, where we will escape the majority of the heavy rainfall forecast for the rest of the country.

Cold and blustery today, with sunny intervals and showers. The showers will be frequent and heavy in Ulster, Connacht and west Munster, with some of hail and a risk of thunder, but they will be more isolated elsewhere. Parts of east Munster and the southern half of Leinster will stay largely dry, though there will be some scattered showers along east and southeast coasts. Maximum temperatures 5-9 degrees, in mostly moderate to fresh northerly winds, but winds will be strong and gusty along Atlantic coasts.

Tonight, winds will gradually ease and most areas will be dry and clear, but some scattered showers will occur along northern and eastern coasts. Very cold, with frost. Patches of mist and fog will develop also. Minimum temperatures -2 to + 2 degrees.