'Plenty of heavy showers' - Grim outlook as experts put dampener on Electric Picnic weekend

Ireland's weather experts have given their predictions for week and weekend ahead and for anyone that is heading to Electric Picnic, rain gear is highly advised.

The last few weeks we have seen temperatures soaring and sunshine blazing but in typical Irish fashion, that is set to change as soon as everyone has plans.

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Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has said "plenty of rain" is on the way this week with very mixed conditions and cooler temperatures for the last week of August and the first week of September.

Although it's not all doom an gloom. There will be some bright and sunny interludes across the week and weekend with a lot of the heavy rain forecast for other parts of the country in particular, so fingers cross Stradbally in Laois will get away with the worst of it.

Today

Today will bring sunshine and widespread blustery showers spreading from the west. Breezy with a moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly wind. A little cooler than recent days with highs of 16 to 20 degrees. High seas expected along Atlantic coasts with wave overtopping possible. During the evening, cloud will increase in the southwest with some rain developing later.

Tonight will see wet and very blustery conditions with fresh and gusty southeasterly winds spreading northeastwards across the country. Some heavy or possibly thundery downpours are likely. However, a clearance to scattered showers following from the west as winds ease too. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees with some mist patches forming.

Wednesday

Another rather unsettled day with any lingering rain in the north and east clearing in the morning. Sunny spells and occasional showers are expected, some of which will be heavy. Southwesterly winds will be moderate, occasionally fresh with highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees.

Showers will gradually clear away from most areas but will linger in the west overnight. Some clear breaks will develop too as winds ease overnight, but the winds remaining strong near Atlantic coasts. Later in the night, showers, will become more widespread again from the west, and some will be heavy. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.

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Thursday

Low pressure to the northwest of Ireland will bring a showery day with blustery west to southwesterly winds. The showers could be heavy or thundery at times particularly in the west and north. A little cooler too with highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees.

Friday

Another breezy blustery day with westerly winds. There will be a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers, with the showers more frequent and heavier over Ulster. Temperatures staying on the cool side in the north and west at 16 or 17 degrees, but a little milder and into the high teens in the east and south with better sunny spells.

It looks like continuing very mixed for the weekend with further rain or showers and blustery at times too. Temperatures in the mid to high teens at best.