Over the past week, rainfall amounts were near or above average across the country, with the exception of stations in the southeast and east. Most stations saw between 105% and 180% of their average rainfall accumulation for this time of year, while Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, saw the most rainfall at 56.1mm, which was 310% of average. In contrast, the stations in the southeast saw between 17 and 92% of their average rainfall, with the least amount of rain recorded at Oak Park, Co. Carlow, at 2.6mm. The coming seven days will see changeable weather conditions with spells of rain or showers interspersed with drier breaks. Overall rainfall amounts are forecast to be below average. The north and west will see the most rainfall, with amounts ranging between 39% and 56% of average, while the south will be driest with rainfall amounts there ranging between 5% and 37% of average. Over the past week, mean air temperatures have generally been within a degree of average for much of the country. It was warmest in the south and east by up to 1 degree above average, and it was coolest in the northwest by 0.7 degrees below average. Mean air temperatures ranged from 13.9 degrees at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo, and 16.5 degrees at both Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin, and Oak Park, Co. Carlow. For the next seven days, mean air temperatures are forecast to be warmer than average by 2 or 3 degrees. Mean soil temperatures were above average during the past week by between 0.7 and 2.9 degrees, ranging from 15.5 degrees at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo, to 19 degrees at Oak Park, Co. Carlow. They are expected to remain above average for the coming week. Sunshine amounts were close to or above average over the past week, ranging between 85% and 129% of average. Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, recorded the most sunshine hours with 40.8 hours. It was dullest in Malin Head, Co. Donegal, with 26.1 hours of sunshine. With changeable conditions and a mix of cloud and sunshine forecast over the coming week, sunshine amounts are expected to remain close to or slightly above average. Drying conditions will be good today, becoming poor in outbreaks of rain over the weekend. But should improve again during the early days of next week. There will be opportunities for spraying today, with outbreaks of rain limiting opportunities over the weekend. Soils are driest in the southeast with Soil Moisture Deficits (SMDs) ranging from 65 to 95mm leading to near drought or drought conditions. SMDs are lowest in the northwest ranging from -5 to 5mm where all soil types are close to saturation or waterlogged. Elsewhere, SMDs range from 25 to 60mm with restriction to growth. Though there will be some rain and showers over the coming week, rainfall amounts are forecast to be below average which will result in little change to SMDs with some areas seeing a slight increase. Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will occur from Saturday evening (8th August) until Sunday afternoon (9th August) in Ulster, Connacht, and north and west Munster. There will be opportunities for spraying today, Friday (7th August).