Forecasters are predicting the start of another heatwave with temperatures tipped to soar to 25 degrees Celsius next week.
But, before that sweltering blast of summer, Met Eireann has warned of heavy thundery downpours in places tomorrow and temperatures ranging from 14C.
The State weather service predicts that, after Friday, temperatures will creep up to 18C for most of the weekend.
Read More: Met Eireann forecast thunder despite unseasonable warmth as Ireland set for remarkable weather
The huge upwards swing to temperatures of 25C in the shade by the end of next week is due to a new high pressure system coming up from southern Europe.
If the weather charts are accurate, the real-feel factor means that a 25C temperature could feel in the sweltering mid-30s in the sunshine.
Met Eireann says temperatures are measured in the shade to give stable readings – but temperatures can feel between 10C to 15C higher in direct sunshine.
A similar warm front in Ireland in March caused unseasonably hot temperatures across the country of up to 18C – and it felt like the mid-20s.
It means that we will again be basking in high thermometer readings with the sunny ice cream weather outshining popular holiday hotspots in Spain.
For now, Met Eireann said: “It will be a wet start on Friday with rain spreading east. The rain will be heavy in places with some thundery downpours possible.
“Highest temperatures of 14C to 17C.”
It added for the weekend: “Largely settled conditions with high pressure dominating.
“Milder than average for the time of year with temperatures in the mid to high-teens generally.
“Saturday will be largely dry day with highest temperatures of 15C to 18C.
“On Sunday, there will be a good deal of cloud at first with outbreaks of rain.
“But sunny spells will follow through the morning and afternoon as good dry intervals develop. Highest temperatures of 14C to 18C.
“Monday will be mild and humid with patchy outbreaks of light rain and drizzle. Highest temperatures of 14C to 18C.”
Forecasters at the Kerry-based group Weather Alerts Ireland use models like the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and Global Forecast System (GFS) to analyse temperatures.
Its chief analyst Nicholas Critch said: “The ECMWF and GFS models are forecasting much warmer weather coming to Ireland later next week.
“The ECMWF model is forecasting temperatures up to 24C for later next week as warm air pushes up from the south over Ireland.
“The charts are showing that temperatures could even go over 25C.”
He added: “High Pressure is forecast to sit over mainland Europe and this week allow warmer air to push up towards Ireland.”
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