Ireland is braced for a weather rollercoaster as stormy conditions sweep the country before an epic turnaround.
Thunder, lightning and hail are forecast to strike many parts of Ireland this week, with “intense” spells of rain at times, raising the risk of flash flooding.
Temperatures will also take a dip and are not expected to pass 20C for the rest of the working week alongside fresh and gusty winds.
Weather maps show a ‘wall of rain’ covering Ireland on Friday and Saturday which could last continually for up to 72 hours.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: Met Eireann forecasts week of 'heavy' rain ahead before turning point
Irish weather expert Alan O’Reilly is monitoring the models, which he explained are subject to change this far out.
Posting on his popular Carlow Weather Twitter account, he wrote: “Latest weather models show a risk of some very heavy rain Friday and Saturday but models not in agreement. ECMWF brings a constant train of rain over Ireland for 48-72 hours with some high rainfall totals but GFS keeps a lot of it out West, one to watch.”
Met Eireann is in agreement on the “unsettled conditions” lasting until at least Friday, however it pinpointed a positive weather change.
The national forecaster says it could turn warmer for the weekend with temperatures surging into the low 20s.
It said: “Current indications suggest that it will be unsettled for Friday and the weekend with occasional showers or longer spells of rain. Some heavy or thundery downpours may occur but in the sunnier gaps it will feel warm as it turns more humid with temperatures in the high teens or low 20's. It could be breezy or windy at times too.”
Looking further ahead it has named the week of July 17 to July 23 as the exact date high pressure could return, bringing “above average temperatures for mid-July” along with “drier than average conditions".
Its long range forecast for that week reads: “On week 3, confidence in the forecast decreases. There is a weak signal for high pressure building nearby, leading to above average temperatures for mid-July, along with drier than average conditions, especially for the eastern half of the country.”
In the meantime Ireland can expect somewhat of a weather rollercoaster with stormy conditions at times broken by occasional sunny spells.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect, Met Eireann said: “Blustery Monday with sunshine and heavy showers, feeding in across the country on a brisk west to northwest wind, with the chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail. The showers will merge into longer spells of rain in parts. A little cooler than average with highest temperatures of 15C to 18C, best values in the southeast.
“Tuesday will be another day of sunny spells and heavy showers, merging into some intense spells of rain, especially later across the east and northeast. Chance of lightning and hail too with spot flooding. However, it will gradually become drier in the west and northwest. Highest temperatures will once again range 15C to 18C in moderate, occasionally fresh west to northwest winds.
“Showers and spells of sunshine once again on Wednesday, some turning heavy in the afternoon in parts of the east and north. Highest temperatures of 14C to 18C, coolest in Atlantic coastal areas, in moderate west to southwesterly winds.
“Some early sunshine Thursday especially in the east and north but cloud gradually increasing from the Atlantic bringing outbreaks of rain which may turn heavy and persistent later especially in western parts. South to southeast winds freshening too and increasing strong near the west coast. Highest temperatures of 15C to 19C.
“Current indications suggest that it will be unsettled for Friday and the weekend with occasional showers or longer spells of rain. Some heavy or thundery downpours may occur but in the sunnier gaps it will feel warm as it turns more humid with temperatures in the high teens or low 20s. It could be breezy or windy at times too.”
