Ireland is set to bask in an extended period of sunny weather in the coming weeks with the arrival of the best conditions of the year so far.
The mercury is expected to reach 18C within days, with clear skies and dry weather on the way.
Weather expert Alan O'Reilly says we can expect some "real heat" from the middle of the month.
READ MORE: Met Eireann's forecast is bad news for the next week but best period of year yet coming soon
Writing on his Carlow Weather social media page, he said: "Some cooler air moving in for early part of the coming week but weather models continue to show a chance of some real heat pushing up from around the 16th. We shall see how this pans out."
Before then, Monday will be breezy with rain spreading eastwards across the country during the morning and afternoon, turning heavy at times, and lingering in the southeast until evening.
The rain will be followed by a band of showers and some will be heavy, especially in northern areas.
There will be some late evening sunny spells in the west and northwest once the showers clear through. It will be a blustery day with moderate to fresh and gusty southerly winds, increasing strong at times and highest temperatures of 13 to 17C.
Any lingering rain in the southeast will clear early on Monday night and everywhere else there will be clear spells and scattered showers, some heavy.
South to southwest winds will generally be light to moderate, but will increase fresh at times in the west and northwest, with lowest temperatures of 7 to 11C.
Here is Met Eireann's forecast for the rest of the week:
TUESDAY: Tuesday will be breezy with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, heavy at times. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16c, mildest in the southeast, with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Continuing breezy early on Tuesday night, with clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the northwest. Overnight, winds will ease and showers will become isolated, however cloud will increase in the south and rain may move into southern coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 11c with fresh and gusty southwesterly winds easing light to moderate by morning.
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WEDNESDAY: Any rain near the south coast will clear during Wednesday morning and otherwise there will be sunny spells and scattered showers. The showers will be most frequent over the northern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 11 to 16c, mildest in the southeast, in a mostly moderate west to northwest breeze.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear spells and isolated showers early on but becoming cloudier overnight with patchy light rain in coastal parts of the west and northwest. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9C with light west to southwest winds.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain in the west and north, but largely dry elsewhere. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14C in a moderate southwesterly breeze.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Continuing mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain in the west and northwest, but otherwise dry. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10C in a moderate southwesterly breeze.
FRIDAY: Little change expected on Friday, with a good deal of dry but rather cloudy weather and showers in the west and northwest. Milder than Thursday though, with highs of 13 to 18C, mildest in the southeast.
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