IRELAND can expect a 26C mini heatwave this weekend, Met Eireann has confirmed.
The scorching weekend weather will likely spill over into Monday, which is set to be cooler with sunny spells.
Ireland can expect some rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and then more sun in the lead up to next weekend.
The Met’s forecast for today:
“After a cloudy, misty start in many areas, with a little patchy light rain or drizzle in places it will brighten up gradually today, with some sunny spells developing. Mainly dry, but a few isolated showers may occur in the northwest.
“Cooler and fresher than recent days, with maximum temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the east and southeast. Winds light to moderate westerly.”
Tonight:
“Dry with clear spells in many areas, but it will become cloudier in the west later. Cooler and fresher than recent nights with lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees.”
Saturday:
“Mostly dry, with the best of the sunshine in the east and south. It will be cloudier in the west and north, with a small chance of a few spots of drizzle in the northwest early on.
“Warm in most areas, especially in the east and south, with temperatures of 20 to 23 degrees, but cooler in Atlantic coastal areas, with highs of 15 to 18 degrees. Winds mostly light westerly, but moderate south to southwest winds on Atlantic coasts.”
National picture:
“Summary: Very warm on Sunday. Becoming cooler and more unsettled next week.
“Saturday night will be mostly dry and clear, however cloud will increase in western coastal counties by morning. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.
“Sunday will be very warm and dry in Leinster, Munster and east Ulster with sunny spells and highest temperatures of 22 to 26 degrees and light to moderate southwest breezes.
“A bit cooler in western counties where it will be cloudier with highs of 16 to 21 degrees. Through the evening, showers will develop across Connacht and Ulster.
“On Sunday night, showery rain in the west and northwest will spread eastwards, becoming light and patchy. Cooler weather will follow. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees.
“Monday will be largely dry with sunny spells. It will be a cooler fresher day with highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the southeast with light to moderate west to northwest breezes.
“Monday night will be dry with clear spells, but becoming cloudier in the west. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees.”
After Monday, the sunny streak is due to come to an end, with the Met forecasting the return of grey skies and light drizzle at first, followed by “scattered showers.”
The Met said: “Tuesday will start mainly dry. Rain will develop in the west in the morning and will spread eastwards through the day. It will clear in the evening with scattered showers following.”
“Highest temperatures of 14 to 20 degrees, warmest in the east in moderate to fresh south to southwest winds.”
Wednesday and Thursday look like there will be another bout of “cool and breezy” weather “with sunny spells and scattered showers extending from the west."
“Temperatures will be in the mid-teens with mostly moderate westerly breezes.”
