Ireland will be hotter than Barcelona at times this week with Met Eireann forecasting an early taste of Summer.
The mercury is set to reach 17C as low pressure drifts to the south of the country, leaving high pressure to dominate.
Temperatures of 17C means Ireland will be hotter than parts of Spain, where Barcelona is expecting maximum temperatures of 16C, while highs of just 9C are forecast for Madrid on Friday.
The Spanish Meteorology Agency AEMET has issued a number of weather warnings in recent days for storms, strong winds, heavy rain, high waves and even snow.
In comparison, Ireland will enjoy days of dry, bright and mild weather, with temperatures “staying slightly above average for this time of year”.
A heatwave is defined as five consecutive days where maximum temperatures are five degrees above the average.
However, Met Eireann has pinpointed when the ‘mini-heatwave’ will end. In its monthly forecast, it says temperatures are due to return to “around average” from Friday, April 29.
In the meantime though, Ireland will bask in warm temperatures with plenty of sunshine.
In its forecast for Wednesday, Met Eireann said: “Mostly dry with good sunny spells this afternoon in the east. Hazier in the west with cloudier conditions developing along western fringes, bringing patchy light rain or drizzle at times.
“Highest temperatures of 12C to 16C in light to moderate south to southeast breezes.
“Mostly cloudy tonight with some patchy light rain and drizzle, predominantly along western coasts. Some clear spells too, the best of which will be in the east.
“Lowest temperatures of 3C to 7C, locally lower, in light to moderate southeasterly or variable winds.”
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Looking ahead to Thursday, it continued: “Tomorrow will be mostly dry with sunny spells and just isolated showers. Some drizzle may drift into the southwest too.
“Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C with a moderate to fresh east to southeast breeze.
“Dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells on Thursday night. Lowest temperatures of 4C to 8C with light to moderate northeasterly winds.”
The National Forecaster said it will be more of the same over the weekend.
The latest forecast on its website reads: “A breezy day on Friday with variable cloud cover and some sunny spells. Cloudiest conditions are expected in the south, bringing scattered outbreaks of light rain, but everywhere else there will just be isolated light showers. Highest temperatures of 13C to 16C in a fresh east to northeast breeze.
“Most areas will be dry at first on Saturday, with a few sunny intervals, but it will get cloudier in the late morning and afternoon with scattered showers developing. It will be dry again in most areas by evening. Highest temperatures of 12C to 15C in a moderate northeasterly breeze.
“Sunday is looking mostly dry and sunny but there may be showers in the southwest. Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C in a light to moderate easterly breeze.”
Met Eireann’s outlook for early next week is for the weather to be “mild and settled with little rainfall”.
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