Ireland is set to enjoy some better than average weather for the majority of February before a big change in a few weeks' time.
Met Eireann's monthly forecast predicts that the next three weeks will see high pressure dominate the weather system here.
This will bring some milder than normal conditions as well as less rain than usually expected during the month.
However, the beginning of March will see the high pressure system "retreat and weaken" as an "Atlantic flow" potentially takes over.
Here is Mat Eireann's forecast for the next 30 days:
Week 1: February 4 to February 10
Indications suggest it will be a blustery weekend with embedded bands of rain feeding in on a brisk westerly airflow. After that, high pressure should build to the southwest of Ireland with milder than normal conditions expected to continue into the new week.
Some uncertainty, even for week one, but rainfall should be below normal across the southern half of the country, and more near normal totals elsewhere. Frost and possible ice can be expected on Friday night but with largely frost free conditions following thereafter.
Week 2: February 11 to February 17
Slightly drier than normal and also slightly milder than normal conditions are signalled for this period. High pressure looks likely to lie in situ to the southeast of Ireland (close to the Low Countries and Northern France), at least early on.
However, it could weaken and retreat if and Atlantic airflow breaks through, allowing some wet and windy spells to potentially move in from the west. Mist and fog may form in light winds early on in the period.
Week 3: February 18 to February 24
A little more uncertainty but it does look as though high pressure will be close to where it was in week 2 or even closer to Ireland. Once again we can expect slightly average temperatures to continue with drier than normal conditions across the country of Ireland.
Hazards for this week, appear minimal at this moment in time. With light winds by night, some frost an ice could form, along with some mist or fog.
Week 4: February 25 to March 3
Indications suggest it will turn increasingly unsettled into week 4 with high pressure likely to retreat and weaken, that’s as a more mobile Atlantic flow possibly takes over.
Some wet spells of weather are indicated across the western half of the country, with closer to normal totals elsewhere.
All the while though temperatures look set to remain a little above normal for the final days of winter and early days of our Meteorological spring. Frost and ice could still well form, despite the arrival of a new season.
