Two provinces in Ireland are due to benefit from a stunning heatwave headed for Europe with temperatures reaching 26C on Friday.
This will be the height of the heat for Ireland but intense conditions are expected elsewhere in the EU, as temperatures hit 40C in the likes of Spain and France.
While the east and southeast enjoy the warmth, forecasts suggest that the west and northwest are not in for the same sunny fate.
From Tuesday, the weather is due to be mild in many areas, with dry and sunny conditions expected - particularly in Leinster and east Munster.
It will be mostly cloudy in the west and northwest with some isolated showers arriving in off the coast and some are predicted to turn heavy in the northwest during the afternoon.
Pleasantly high temperatures are also forecast with highs of 19C in light to moderate south to southwest breezes.
Wednesday will bring more dry and bright weather once again with Munster and Leinster in for the best of conditions while patchy rain and drizzle will affect Connacht and Ulster.
Temperatures will be warm once again with the southeast reaching highs of 21C however, patchy showers will continue to hit parts of the west and northwest with lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees.
Thursday follows a similar trend and will be warm and mainly dry with some sunshine in the east and south.
There'll be some further patchy rain at times in the northwest with highest temperatures of 18C to 22C with moderate southerly breezes.
The north of the country is forecast for the warmest conditions on Thursday however rain in the will become more persistent in the northwest overnight.
On Friday, rain and drizzle will move southeastwards over the country, but will become light and patchy, with just a few heavier showers later in the day.
Temperatures will reach heights of 26C in Leinster and Munster as other parts of Europe bake in a 40C heatwave.
Further south and west will see cooler conditions with temperatures ranging from 15C to 19C for west Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
A cooler air flow will then make its way over these areas bringing with it some rain and drizzle with light westerly breezes.
As for the weekend ahead, Met Eireann says: “Current indications suggest that Saturday will be a bright, fresh day with sunny spells and some passing light showers.
“Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees with moderate northwest breezes.
“Sunday looks like being mainly dry and a bit warmer with lighter winds and highest temperatures of 18 to 21 degrees.”
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