Ireland is expected to record its warmest day of the year so far later this week, beating the current benchmark of 21.3C logged on April 16.
Met Eireann says thermometers could soar as high as 23C in some areas on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures in general remaining in the “high teens or low 20s” for the rest of this week and much of next week.
It comes as the area of high pressure which has brought fine conditions to Ireland over the past few days is forecast to extend towards the end of the month.
READ MORE: TG4 hiring new weather presenters with no experience necessary - but there’s one catch
The national forecaster says it will continue to dominate Ireland’s weather for the rest of this week - and the current signal is for this to continue through next week too. This means lots of settled weather for many, with warm, dry and sunny conditions.
While some have dubbed it a two-week ‘mini heatwave’, Met Eireann has ruled this out.
Heatwaves are often defined as five days of consecutive above average temperatures, but a Met Eireann forecaster previously told the Irish Mirror: "That is a working definition used by some other met offices, but the Met Eireann definition of a heatwave is five consecutive days of temperatures above 25C.”
So while Ireland is forecast to enjoy two weeks of above-average temperatures, Met Eireann has confirmed it is not an official heatwave.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of the incoming weather, the meteorological service said: “Brightening up across the southern half of the country Wednesday afternoon with good spells of sunshine. Staying cloudier for much of the day further north with patchy light rain or drizzle at times. Highest temperatures ranging from 15C in the northwest to 20C or 21C in the southeast. Northwesterly winds will be mostly light
“Dry Thursday with good sunny spells. There is the chance of isolated patches of light rain or drizzle in the northwest where it will be cloudiest. Highest temperatures of 15C to 19C over the northern half of the country. Milder further south with temperatures reaching 19C to 23C. Northerly winds will be light to moderate.
“Dry with spells of sunshine Friday. Highest temperatures of 18C to 23C generally, slightly cooler near coasts. Winds will be light easterly or variable.
“There will be a good deal of dry weather over Saturday and Sunday with some sunny spells, but it will be quite cloudy at times. There is the chance of isolated patches of light rain or drizzle also. Saturday will be the warmer day with highest temperatures of 16C degrees in the north to 22C further south. Slightly cooler on Sunday with highs generally of 14C to 18C, but reaching 19C to 21C in parts of the south and southwest.
“High pressure will persist through much of next week with little change in our weather. Temperatures reaching the high teens or low twenties generally in mostly light winds.”
READ NEXT:
- Ireland weather: Met Eireann forecasts BBQ conditions as weekend temperatures to reach 22C
- Bosses consider delaying Jonathan Dowdall's prison move until after appeal court date
- Poverty campaigners pitch reduced electricity rates for people on social welfare payments
- Irish taxpayers to benefit from Facebook owner Meta's huge €1.2 billion data breach fine
- Mr Flashy's debt threat to gangland enforcer Scott Capper over €8k as fallout between former best pals revealed
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
