After a cool and changeable end to the working week, the weather will remain unsettled over the weekend, with periods of rain and sun in store for much of the country, according to weather bureau Weeronline.

Friday is sharp contrast with the recent warm and sunny weather. Temperatures will struggle to reach between 12 and 15°, and showers will move in from the northwest throughout the day.

Saturday will start dry in many places, with some early sunshine. This spring is on track to become one of the sunniest ever recorded, and there is still a chance it could be the sunniest since records began, though this remains uncertain, Weeronline said.

Cloud cover will increase during Saturday morning as a band of rain approaches from the west. Rain will begin falling in the afternoon and spread eastward across the country. Winds will be moderate, blowing from the southwest to west, and may be (fairly) strong along the coast, reaching force 5 to 6.

The rain will continue at intervals into Saturday evening, though there will also be dry spells. Sunday will start out grey and wet due to a band of rain lingering over the country. However, the rain will clear eastward fairly quickly, leading to drier conditions and some sunshine as the day progresses. It will be windy, especially along the coast.

Next week will bring more changeable conditions, with occasional showers but also plenty of dry and sunny periods. Temperatures are set to rise as the week progresses, hinting at a return to more spring-like weather.

The KNMI is not so optimistic about sunshine towards the end of next week and its long term forecast suggests the weather will be changeable but warm well into June.