Ireland is as hot as Madrid today, with temperatures set to match the Spanish capital.
Met Eireann has forecast “unusually” high temperatures over the coming days, with the mercury set to soar as high as 17C.
Meanwhile night time temperatures are not expected to drop below double digits.
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The national forecaster said: “Temperatures are expected to remain higher than usual this week, with the east in particular showing the trend for warmer weather.”
It’s not all good news though, as this weekend’s warm temperatures will be accompanied by rain and wind at times.
Meanwhile across the Atlantic, there are fears the jet stream will strengthen propelling much more unsettled weather towards Ireland early next week.
The UK Met Office explained: “Over the coming days tropical air will be brought northwards over eastern USA and Canada by Tropical Storm Nicole. This tropical air will meet the very cold air currently bringing wintry weather to the Midwest, and the knock-on effects is a very active jet stream that will bring a new theme next week, though the details are still uncertain.”
Irish weather expert Alan O’Reilly said its impact could be felt in Ireland by Monday or Tuesday.
He wrote on his popular Carlow Weather Twitter account: “The Jet Stream looks likely to fire up a nasty low early next week but details this far out are uncertain and it could well miss us. One to keep an eye on for next Monday/Tuesday though.”
Met Eireann say there is “some uncertainty” for next week, but Tuesday could be a wet and windy day.
It said: “There is some uncertainty from Tuesday onwards but current indications suggest that Tuesday will be a rather wet and windy day with the unsettled weather continuing through the working week.”
But in the meantime, Ireland will enjoy a mild weekend with highs of up to 17C.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect, the Irish meteorological service said: “Mild and windy this afternoon and evening with a good deal of cloud. Staying mostly dry with patchy rain or drizzle in the west and southwest. Persistent rain will develop in western and northwestern counties in the evening. Top temperatures of 14C to 17C in strong and gusty south or southwest winds, with gales along coasts.
“Staying mild and windy overnight with outbreaks of rain in Atlantic coastal counties at times. Elsewhere, it will be largely dry with just patchy rain or drizzle at times. Lowest temperatures of 12C to 15C in strong and gusty southerly winds.
“Mostly cloudy on Friday with scattered outbreaks of rain or drizzle in the west, mostly dry over the eastern half of the country. Windy through the morning with strong southerly winds, moderating fresh through the afternoon. Mild with highest temperatures of 14C to 17C.
“On Friday night, outbreaks of rain will spread northwards across the country, with heavy falls possible in parts of the south or west. Some dry periods too. It will be another mild night with lowest temperatures of 10C to 13C. Light southerly winds will increase moderate overnight.
“Plenty of cloud about on Saturday morning with outbreaks of rain to start, mainly over the western half of the country. Rain will largely clear to dry weather for the afternoon and evening with hazy sunny spells developing. Staying mild with highs of 13C to 16C in moderate south or southeast breezes. Winds will freshen later in the west and southwest.
“Generally dry overnight Saturday apart from a few patches or light rain or drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 10C to 13C with southeast winds increasing fresh and gusty.
“It looks set to be breezy on Sunday and largely dry to start with a mix of cloud and some hazy sunny spells. There will likely be rain however in western and southwestern coastal areas, spreading elsewhere especially later in the day. Highest temperatures of 13C to 16C in fresh and gusty southeast winds.
“Rain is expected become widespread on Sunday night. Lowest temperatures of 9C to 12C in moderate southeast breezes.”
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