It looks like the dry, warm conditions we have experienced across the country in recent days are coming to an end with the weekend weather forecast indicating a band of rain on the way.

Today, Friday, March 21 will start off dry apart from some early morning showers in west Munster, according to Met Éireann.

Around noon showers or longer spells of rain will develop in the south-east and will extend north-westwards to all areas through the afternoon and evening with a few heavy or thundery downpours possible.

Highest temperatures will range from 11° to 15°C with light to moderate east to south-east winds.

Tonight will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain, most persistent over the western half of the country.

Lowest temperatures of 4° to 9° with mostly light south-east or variable breezes, but fresh to strong northerly winds will develop near west and south-west coasts overnight.

Saturday will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy at times.

Highest temperatures of 9° to 13° are expected over the eastern half of the country, but only reaching 6° to 8° further west.

Light to moderate north to north-west winds at forecast at first, but fresher winds in the west will extend to all areas through the day.

On Saturday night, there will be further showers or longer spells of rain but becoming lighter and patchier overnight and turning drier in the west with lowest temperatures of 4° to 9° in moderate to fresh northerly winds.

On Sunday, patchy rain and drizzle will gradually clear eastwards with drier, brighter weather following from the west and with sunny spells developing.

Eastern areas will stay mostly cloudy for much of the day with highest temperatures of 8° to 11° with moderate to fresh northerly winds.

Sunday night will be dry and cold with clear spells and mainly light north-west breezes. Lowest temperatures of between 0° and +4° are expected.

Monday will be mainly dry with bright or sunny spells and highest temperatures of 9° to 12° with light northerly breezes.

On Monday night, light rain and drizzle will move in from the north-west and spread over much of the country by morning. Lowest temperatures will range from °2 to 6° with light breezes.

Tuesday will start off mostly cloudy with a little light rain or drizzle. It will gradually brighten up with some sunny intervals developing.

Highest temperatures of 11° to 14° are forecast with light to moderate northerly breezes. Tuesday night will be cold and dry with lowest temperatures of 0° to 4°.Wednesday and Thursday will be mainly dry, though there will be some patchy rain at times, mainly in the west. Daytime temperatures will range from 11° to 14° and the nights will be frost-free.

Drying conditions will become poor by the weekend as the weather turns more unsettled.

Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) generally range between +10mm to +22mm at present with most soil types becoming trafficable.

There will be some deterioration on Friday and into the weekend as the weather changes and becomes a little more unsettled.