A blast of ‘tropical’ air is set to heat up Ireland over the Easter bank holiday weekend before a bleak change next week.
Temperatures could reach a mild 17C over the coming days, although it's set to remain quite unsettled with heavy bursts of rain and hail at times.
It comes after Met Eireann forecast a blast of "milder tropical air" over Easter, ahead of a major change as a chilly weather front sends the mercury plummeting next week.
The National Forecaster says it will feel “much colder” from Easter Monday with daytime temperatures almost halved to just 9C in fresh westerly winds.
In its outlook for the coming days, it said: “Unsettled through the Easter weekend, with rain on Saturday followed by showers for Easter Sunday and Monday. Mild to start but turning cooler from later Sunday.”
Here’s Met Eireann’s day-by-day weather forecast for Easter weekend.
Good Friday
Met Eireann said: “Good Friday will start mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. It will brighten up and become drier through the day with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers developing. Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C in a light southerly or variable breeze.
“Lingering showers will die out early on Friday night, becoming mostly dry with long clear spells. Some mist and fog will develop overnight. Lowest temperatures of 4C to 7C in light to moderate southerly winds.”
Holy Saturday
The National Forecaster continued: “Largely dry to start on Saturday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, some drizzle likely near the south coast. A spell rain will spread over the western half of the country through the day, heaviest and most persistent in the southwest. The east will likely stay dry and bright until evening. Highest temperatures of 12C to 16C in moderate to fresh southerly winds.
“A cloudy night with outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards across the country, occasionally turning heavy. Rain will be persistent in southern counties. Lowest temperatures of 9C to 11C in a light to moderate southerly breeze.”
Easter Sunday
“Rain to start on Easter Sunday, eventually clearing east during the day. It will be followed from the west by widespread showers, turning heavy at times in the afternoon with the chance of hail. Highest temperatures of 12C to 15C, but turning cooler as the rain clears. Breezy in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.
“Becoming largely dry on Sunday night with clear spells, though scattered showers will feed into western coastal areas. A colder night with lowest temperatures of 3C to 6C degrees,” a post on the Met Eireann website reads.
Easter Monday
Looking ahead to the weather change, Met Eireann said: “Feeling much cooler with a mix of sunny spells and showers, some possibly heavy with hail. Highest temperatures of just 9C to 12C in moderate to fresh westerly winds.”
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