WEEKEND WEATHER: Kilkenny braced for another turn in conditions as Saharan dust cloud approaches

Unsettled conditions are set to return to Kilkenny and the rest of the country over the coming days. And the country is also braced for a strange weather phenomenon which could see Ireland draped in a blanket of dust.

So far the country has been spared from the Saharan dust making its way all the way from Africa. But weather chiefes warned the mixture of sand and dust from the Saharan desert looks likely to hit European shores including Ireland in the coming days.

The UK Met Office said: “As in other parts of the world, the wind can blow strongly over deserts – whipping up dust and sand high into the sky. If the winds in the upper part of the atmosphere are blowing north, the dust can be carried as far as the UK.”

Closer to home for now, Met Éireann said there will be a mix of cloud and sunny spells today, with the best of the sunny spells in the eastern half of the country. The national forecaster said: “Largely dry apart from isolated light showers, mainly in coastal parts of Munster and Connacht. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds, freshening at times along Atlantic coasts.”

Tomorrow will be generally cloudy with limited bright spells. Rain and drizzle is expected push into coastal parts of Connacht and Ulster through the afternoon, but remaining dry elsewhere, with highest temperatures of just 5 to 9 degrees.

Met Éireann said Kilkenny, along with most eastern and southern areas, will be dry for most of Sunday. It will be generally cloudy as outbreaks of rain will edge slowly over the west and north of the country through the afternoon, with the mercury rising to highs of between 8 to 11 degrees.

The national forcaster warned “an unsettled regime is set to be established for early next week” with rain and showers returning.