Ireland is set to back in some unseasonably warm weather in the coming days thanks to the arrival of a tropical air front.
Temperatures are set to be slightly above average for early May nationwide next week, prompting suggestions that a 'mini heatwave' could be on the way.
However, the balmy conditions will be preceded by some unsettled conditions early in the week with plenty of rain for some areas.
READ MORE: Met Eireann forecast 19C heat and rain this weekend before Atlantic regime takes hold next week
As for the rest of the month, high pressure and settled weather are forecast, meaning the mercury and sunshine will remain moderately high.
Here are Met Eireann's predictions for the next 30 days:
Week 1: May 9 to May 15
Low pressure systems to the west of the country will keep the weather fairly unsettled for the week, with the west and northwest experiencing higher than average amounts of rainfall, close to normal amounts expected elsewhere. As that low pressure system brings warmer tropical air over the country temperatures will be slightly above normal for early May over all areas.
Week 2: May 16 to May 22
As we look into week 2, high pressure looks sets to dominate with more settled conditions expected. This will cause rainfall amounts to be below average, and temperatures will be higher than normal for mid-May, winds will be light to moderate with variable cloud cover.
Week 3: May 23 to May 29
Looking ahead to week 3, similar conditions can be expected with a signal for rainfall amounts to remain below average, and temperature to remain slightly above normal for late May.
Week 4: May 30 to June 5
For week 4, the amount of uncertainty associated with the forecast increases, and rainfall amounts look set to remain normal for early June, as well as temperatures remaining average.
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