Mini heatwave to hit Ireland as first signs of summer arrive
Ireland is set to receive a blast of heat and sunshine this week as temperatures rise into the high teens.
Met Éireann has forecast a spell of summer-like weather, making parts of the country warmer than Mediterranean holiday spots.
Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 18C on Thursday, with the unseasonal warmth feeling even hotter in some areas.
A mini heatwave is set to hit Ireland this week. Pic: Getty Images
Parts of Spain, including the likes of Barcelona and Benidorm, are only forecast to reach 14C at the same time.
An area of high pressure will be settling over Ireland, pushing away the recent cloud and rain.
This forecast is not typical for March, as high-pressure systems usually arrive in the summer.
Temperatures are set to reach the high teens. Pic: Collins Photos
Thursday’s sunshine and heat could be seen as a ‘summer preview’.
Met Éireann stated: ‘The weather will become settled from Thursday, with mostly dry and fairly calm weather. It will be mild in any sunshine too.’
However, the country will have to go through another day of dullness before the sun comes out.
There will be more dull conditions before the sun comes out. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
The national forecaster said: ‘Wednesday, will start off rather dull with patchy rain and drizzle. Mist and fog will clear early through the morning with some sunny spells developing later in the day.
‘Quite mild with highest temperatures of 11C to 15C , feeling mildest in the south and east, in light easterly or variable winds.’
It also warned that temperatures will sharply drop on Thursday night after the sun goes down.
Afterwards, the weather will become more mixed with changeable conditions arriving for the weekend.
Met Éireann continued: ‘A dull but dry start Friday with mist and fog patches. Spells of hazy sunshine will develop early on in just light easterly breezes. Highest temperatures of 12C to 17C, warmest further west.
‘A similar start Saturday with widespread mist and fog lingering for a time through the morning at first. Bright and sunny spells will develop early on and stay for the day with cloud increasing again from the northwest come the evening.
‘Feeling slightly cooler with highest temperatures of 10C to 14C in light to moderate northerly breezes.
‘Cloudy on Sunday but remaining dry during daylight hours. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will start to feed in over parts of the northwest come the evening in light to moderate westerly winds.’
