Ireland is braced for “rollercoaster” weather as 26C heat triggers fresh thunderstorms.
The country has enjoyed weeks of above average temperatures, and Met Eireann says the mercury will heat up once again this weekend.
But the warm weather will not be accompanied by sunny skies, as more “unsettled” conditions are forecast.
The national forecaster has warned there will be “some heavy or thundery downpours” with the miserable conditions expected to continue into next week.
READ MORE: Met Eireann verdict on another heatwave as maps show sudden weather U-turn for Ireland
From Wednesday there is expected to be some relief from the mild and muggy weather as it cools down with temperatures in the mid-to-high teens.
Independent forecaster Alan O’Reilly shared the latest weather models on his Carlow Weather social media accounts, describing the incoming weather as a “rollercoaster”.
He wrote: “A rollercoaster of temperatures ahead and unsettled weather as low pressure has won this round. Total rainfall forecast for next 7 days from two main models on the last two images but showers means accuracy of totals is low.”
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect this weekend, Met Eireann said: “Friday will be cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, turning heavy at times. Warm and humid with highest temperatures of 19C to 23C in moderate south to southwest winds.
“Staying generally cloudy and humid Friday night with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle, most frequent over the western half of the country. Very mild with temperatures not falling below 15C to 18C in moderate southerly winds.
“A warm and humid day on Saturday. Most places will be dry with sunny spells breaking through in the morning and afternoon. However, there will be occasional patches of rain and drizzle, and a few showers are possible in Ulster later on. Highest temperatures of 20C to 26C, warmest in the east and northeast, in moderate to fresh southerly winds.
“Cloudy Saturday night with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, turning heavier and more persistent in the west and southwest later in the night. Mild with temperatures not falling below 13C to 16C in moderate southerly winds.
“A dull and wet start to the day Sunday with rain becoming widespread and some heavy or thundery downpours possible. The rain will clear eastwards later, with scattered showers and sunny spells following from the west. Highest temperatures of 17C in the west to 23C in the east with moderate to fresh southerly winds, veering westerly.
“A mix of clear spells and scattered showers on Sunday night. Cloud will thicken from the west later on. A cooler night with lowest temperatures of 10C to 13C in a light to moderate westerly breeze.”
Looking ahead to next week, it continued: “Generally cloudy Monday with scattered showers, though more persistent rain will spread from the west through the afternoon and evening. Cooler with highest temperatures of 15C to 18C. Rather breezy too in moderate to fresh southwest winds.
“A cloudy and rather wet day Tuesday with widespread outbreaks of rain, though there may be some long dry spells in the southeast. Quite breezy once again with moderate to fresh southwest winds. Highest temperatures of 19C to 22C.
“Remaining unsettled for the remainder of the week as spells of rain and showers feed in from the Atlantic. Cooler with temperatures in the mid to high teens.”
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