Rain and drizzle is expected, but a "good lot" of dry weather at times.

Met Éireann has said that weather conditions over the past week were drier or much drier than normal nationwide.

It found that rainfall totals ranged from just 0.3mm in Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford to 11.3mm in Malin Head, Co. Donegal, equating to between 2% and 58% of normal.

Over the coming week the weather will be mixed with some rain and drizzle at times, but a "good lot" of dry weather at times, especially from Thursday afternoon (July 31) until Saturday evening (August 2).

A frontal band of rain is forecast to move through on Saturday night with a further unsettled day likely on Monday (August 4), though details remain uncertain at this stage.

Rainfall totals for the next seven days are forecast to range from 7mm to 76mm, which is less than half the average amount for this time of year in the south to over two times the average amount in the northwest.

According to Met Éireann, mean air temperatures over the past seven days were just above average for this time of year, with values ranging from 15.1 to 17.5 degrees.

Soil temperatures are also above normal, ranging from 16.2 to 19.4 degrees, which is 1.2 to 3.0 degrees above average.

Mean air temperatures over the coming week will be near average, within a degree above or below, and will range from 14 to 16 degrees. Soil temperatures will remain above average.

On the spraying front, opportunities will be limited over the coming seven days, with patchy rain and drizzle at times, along with spells of wet and windy weather over the weekend and early next week.

However, Met Éireann said that there will be some opportunities for spraying in drier conditions up to Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, currently most soils are trafficable, with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) generally ranging between 7mm and 42mm, driest in the south, with some restriction to growth in the far south.

However, parts of the north and northeast are wetter, where some soils are saturated or waterlogged. Met Éireann believes, that with mixed conditions over the coming week, there won't be too much change to field conditions.

Some soils in the north and northwest will become slightly wetter, while soils further south will become drier.

Finally, a potato blight advisory is in effect from today (Wednesday, July 30( until Thursday morning (July 31).