Met Éireann has issued an advisory for potato blight over the coming days with certain areas of the country more at risk.

The national meteorological service has said that weather conditions conductive to the spread of the disease will affect coastal regions in the north and west. The risk will be marginal in other parts.

The advisory which is now in effect, will be in place until the end of Saturday (July 5).

Potato blight is a plant-disease caused by a fungal-like organism called Phytophthora infestans.

The pathogen spreads rapidly in humid weather in the foliage of potatoes and tomatoes, causing the foliage to decay and the plant to be infected.

Potato blight continues to be the most economically destructive disease of global potato crops.

In Ireland alone, Teagasc estimates that €5 million is spent annually on fungicides to mitigate the impacts of the disease, which represents between 15-20 fungicide applications per season.

Given Irish climatic conditions during the summer months where such preventative measures are not applied losses of up to 100% can be experienced.

Met Éireann said that over the coming week, mean air temperatures are expected to be slightly below normal, ranging from 14 to 16 °C overall.

Mean soil temperatures are due to continue to remain above normal for the time of year.

There will be rain and showers at times over the next seven days, but also a lot of dry weather too, especially across the south and east.

Overall, rainfall accumulations are expected to be between 25 and 35mm in the northwest, and between 5 and 20mm elsewhere, with the driest conditions expected near the south coast.

For the coming week, drying conditions will begin poor with rain or showers over the weekend, followed by drier conditions with just isolated showers.

Spraying opportunities will also be limited at times in showers over the coming week, but will increase through midweek conditions turn more settled.