• Weekend washout looms as scattered showers give way to persistent rain, with temperatures struggling to reach seasonal averages

Cork residents should prepare for an extended period of unsettled weather as June continues its disappointing start, with forecasters predicting rain or showers virtually every day through to next week.

This evening will see a typical mixed bag of bright spells and scattered showers moving through the county, carried on light to moderate westerly breezes. However, relief may be temporary as more significant weather changes are brewing for the weekend.

Friday promises an initially pleasant start with sunny spells and well-scattered showers, but conditions will deteriorate through the afternoon. Met Éireann forecasters warn “Early in the afternoon, it will become cloudier in the southwest with showers merging into longer spells of rain, spreading to all areas by evening.”

The weekend outlook makes for particularly grim reading for anyone planning outdoor activities. Saturday will begin wet before conditions gradually improve, leaving behind the familiar pattern of showers and sunny spells. However, with temperatures struggling to reach just 12 to 15 degrees, it will feel decidedly cool for early June.

Sunday offers little respite, with forecasters predicting another mix of sunshine and showers. Cloud will increase through the afternoon before brightening again by evening, though temperatures will remain stubbornly low at 13 to 16 degrees.

The unsettled pattern shows no signs of breaking into next week, with Monday expected to bring cloudy skies and persistent rain across the northern half of the country. Southern areas, including Cork, can expect lighter showers but still wet conditions.

For those seeking any positive news in the forecast, temperatures are expected to climb gradually day by day, moving closer to the seasonal average. Additionally, the Solar UV Index is rated as moderate to high for Friday and Saturday, suggesting some decent sunny intervals between the showers.

Tonight will provide a brief respite as showers become more isolated, with temperatures dropping to a chilly 5 to 8 degrees under light to moderate west to southwest winds.

The extended forecast suggests Cork’s famously changeable weather is firmly in charge, with residents advised to keep waterproofs handy and perhaps postpone any major outdoor events until the pattern shifts.