The weekend weather forecast indicates a mixed bag across the country over the next few days with warmer temperatures on the way.

According to Met Éireann, it will be rather cloudy to begin today (Friday, August 8), especially in the north and west, with some patches of rain and drizzle, but better sunny spells will develop as the day goes on.

There will be some well-scattered showers too, becoming isolated in the evening. Highest temperatures will range from 17°C to 21°, in moderate to fresh south-westerly winds, strongest in northern areas.

Later in the evening, cloud will begin to build from the north-west.

Rain and breezy conditions will move in across Ulster and Connacht tonight. It should be mainly dry elsewhere with clear spells and increasing cloud and lowest temperatures of 10° to 14°.

Outbreaks of rain will continue to move south-eastwards tomorrow Saturday, clearing the south coast by early afternoon.

Sunny spells will follow from the north with just a few scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 16° to 21° are expected in mostly moderate westerly breezes, a little fresher near the north coast.

Saturday night will see any showers in the north-west dying out, and it will be mainly dry with clear spells and a few mist or fog patches forming in light southerly breezes.

Cloud will increase from the south-west later in the night, possibly bringing a little drizzle to coastal parts of Munster by morning with lowest temperatures of 11° to 15°.

On Sunday, there will be some sunny spells to begin especially in the north and east. However, cloud will continue to gradually push up from the south-west during the day, bringing some patchy rain.

Much of Leinster may stay dry but will become rather overcast by evening and highest temperatures will range from 18° to 21°, becoming humid in moderate south to south-westerly breezes.

The early days of next week look warm and humid with temperatures generally in the low to mid-20s in light southerly winds. While there will be good spells of sunshine, some heavy or thundery downpours may occur in parts too.

According to Met Éireann, the current indication suggests a fresher Atlantic regime will return again by mid-week.

Currently, most soils have soil moisture deficits (SMDs) of 5mm to 55mm generally, but well drained or moderately drained soils in parts of the west and north-east are close to saturation, while poorly drained soils in those areas are either saturated or waterlogged.

With further mixed conditions forecast over the coming week there will be long dry periods and so SMDs will increase to between 30mm and 60mm generally, however, some soils in the west and north-east will continue to be close to being saturated.