Ireland is in for a number of weeks worth of summer sunshine as a large subtropical semi-permanent centre of high atmospheric pressure - or High Azores - sends temperatures soaring.
Things have been up and down over recent weeks, but Tuesday will bring the first true sunny spells of the week in the late afternoon with highest temperatures ranging from 16 to 21 degrees.
The Irish forecaster’s outlook for the week ahead states: “High pressure will continue to build slowly over Ireland.
“A good deal of cloud through much of the working week with small amounts of precipitation, mainly in the north and west.
"Becoming warmer towards the end of the week with temperatures reaching the low to mid-twenties.”
Wednesday will see northern and western counties hit with some drizzle, but elsewhere there will be a few sunny breaks and highest temperatures of up to 22 degrees - hottest in the southeast.
There will be plenty of cloud at first on Thursday, but sunny intervals will develop during the afternoon and evening, particularly in the south and east.
Highest temperatures will once again range from 18 to 22 degrees - but it will be cooler in parts of the northwest.
Heading into the weekend then, Friday will bring mostly dry and cloudy conditions at first with outbreaks of light rain in the northwest dying away with isolated light showers breaking out during the day.
Some sunny spells will develop as well with highest temperatures of 23 degrees for most in light to moderate northwesterly breezes.
Saturday and Sunday will be “Dry for most with light winds and some sunny spells. Temperatures widely reaching the low to mid-twenties.”
As for farther afield, Met Eireann currently says: “High pressure is expected to dominate our weather next week with largely dry and warm conditions.”
It looks as if the summer weather will begin to wind down in week three of July as “less settled conditions” are expected from July 18.
“Low pressure signalled to trend to the southwest of Ireland which would bring more in the way of rainfall than that of Week 1 and Week 2.
“Overall however, rainfall amounts will likely be average for the time of year, with temperatures returning to average.
“A mix of settled and unsettled spells likely during the week, with no strong signal for either high or low pressure to dominate over Ireland. Warnings unlikely.”
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