Showery Monday Ahead for Cork as Fresh Atlantic Weather Sweeps In

We should prepare for a changeable Monday with scattered showers developing into heavier rainfall by midday, before conditions ease this evening. Temperatures will remain fresh at 14 to 17 degrees with blustery southwesterly winds creating challenging driving conditions during the heaviest downpours.

The day begins on a positive note with bright, crisp conditions and sunny spells across Cork. However, Atlantic weather systems are already approaching from the west, with scattered showers expected to push inland by dawn and become more widespread through the morning.

The most significant weather arrives around midday when a more organised band of rain crosses the region. Weather models suggest rainfall rates could reach 3 to 6 millimetres per hour during the heaviest pulses, with gusty southwesterly winds of 40 to 60 kilometres per hour accompanying the rain. Visibility will be particularly poor on higher ground and exposed routes, with brief thunderstorms possible as conditions intensify.

Motorists should allow extra journey time today, especially on routes like the N40 and M8 where surface water and gusty winds will make driving conditions difficult. The combination of heavy downpours and strong winds creates a recipe for challenging travel conditions across the county.

By evening, the organised rain band weakens into patchy showers and drizzle. Temperatures will drop towards 11 degrees as winds ease to 25 to 40 kilometres per hour. Skies begin clearing later tonight, though some uncertainty remains about exact timing.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, the wet theme continues with rain and drizzle early in the day before brightening from early afternoon. Temperatures recover slightly to 16 to 20 degrees with moderate southeasterly winds gradually easing through the day.

The remainder of the week maintains an unsettled pattern. Wednesday brings more rain moving northeastwards through morning and early afternoon, followed by scattered showers and sunny spells. Thursday turns cooler with temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees and scattered heavy showers feeding in from the west.

Friday promises another breezy day with westerly winds gusting 40 to 60 kilometres per hour near exposed coasts. Scattered showers will be frequent, occasionally producing rainfall rates of 2 to 4 millimetres per hour as a stronger disturbance approaches from the northwest.

The weekend outlook suggests Cork faces a spell of wet and windy weather, maintaining the unsettled Atlantic pattern that has dominated recent days. Best to keep waterproofs handy and secure any loose outdoor items, particularly ahead of Friday's stronger winds.

For those planning outdoor activities this week, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning may offer the best windows between showers, though even these periods come with no guarantees in this changeable weather pattern.