WEATHER: Heavy rain and blustery winds expected for Easter weekend

Today

Scattered showers and sunny spells today. Showers may be heavy and fall as sleet or snow at times, especially on higher ground. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in a moderate to fresh southerly breeze.

Isolated showers and clear spells tonight, still some falling as sleet and snow. Winds falling light easterly overnight allowing temperatures to fall to minus 1 to plus 2 degrees with frost and ice possible.

Thursday

Showers or longer spells of rain along the south coast and in the east and north tomorrow, Thursday, with sunny spells and isolated showers elsewhere. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with moderate to fresh northeast becoming light northwest later breezes.

Scattered clouds and a few lingering isolated showers on Thursday night but some good clear spells developing later in the night. Cool overnight too as winds fall light with lowest temperatures of -1 to 3 degrees with a touch of frost possible.

Friday

A mostly dry start with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Showers will develop across the country in the afternoon as southerly breezes freshen. The showers may be heavy at times but will gradually begin to die out by the evening. Highs of 9 to 12 degrees.

A mix of clear spells and just a few isolated showers in the evening but the fresh southerly breeze will persist through the night. A little chilly too with lows of 0 to 3 degrees so a touch of frost couldn't be ruled out.

Saturday

It looks set to be another rather unsettled but perhaps milder day overall. A brisk southerly flow will usher in plenty of showers during the afternoon and evening, some possibly heavy a times too. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees.

Sunday

Current models indicate that the unsettled weather will remain for Sunday with showers nationwide in the afternoon and evening together with blustery southerly winds. Perhaps slightly milder too with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.