Ireland is set to bask in warm sunshine within days thanks to the arrival of mild weather and dry conditions.
Temperatures are set to reach highs of 17C on Monday, with western areas to get the best of the sun.
Met Eireann's monthly forecast also shows that Ireland will enjoy warmer and drier than average conditions until the end of next week.
READ MORE: Met Eireann's magnificent weather update as temperatures to hit 17C on wonderful weekend
A forecaster said for March 21 until 27: "Pressure is expected to be relatively high through this week bringing a fair deal of settled weather and only small amounts of light showers or drizzle on occasions.
"So overall much drier than average with only a few mms of rain in parts and some areas seeing nothing. It is expected to be warmer than average with some pleasant warm spring days occurring.
"Exposed coastal fringes of the east and south at times will be a bit fresher. But averaging out warmer than normal for the period countrywide, though still some grass/ground frosts occurring on some of the nights with mist and fog too as winds initially fresh will become lighter."
Before then, Friday evening will be dry and bright for most areas, although cloudier in parts of the south and southwest. Southeast winds will be mostly moderate but a little fresher though near coasts.
Friday night will be dry with long clear spells and lowest temperatures of 0 to 6C, with some frost, mainly for sheltered areas and some mist or fog possible also.
A forecaster said for Saturday: "Dry and sunny across most areas on Saturday, but breezy too, in moderate to fresh southeast winds. Highest temperatures of 10 to 15C, warmest generally across central and western areas.
"Dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells [on Saturday night], in moderate southeast breezes. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6C, coolest and clearest in the north and east with some possible frost here.
"Most areas will be cloudy with the best of any sunny spells in the northeast and east [on Sunday]. Overall dry, outside of a few showers which will mainly affect the western half of the country later in the day. Highest temperatures of 9 to 14C, coolest across the eastern half of the country.
"Largely dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells [on Sunday night], with isolated showers. Light to moderate southeast breezes. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7C, coolest and clearest in the northeast with some possible frost here."
They added for Monday: "Mostly dry with long spells of spring sunshine across most areas. Just well scattered showers in the morning, and these will die out through the day. Top temperatures of 10 to 16C, warmest all the while across the west possibly reaching 17C there. Coolest along eastern coasts due to moderate southeast breezes.
"Current indications showing a good deal of dry and sunny weather. Very mild or even warm in sunshine, with best values across the western half of the country."
For the latest breaking news to your inbox , sign up for our newsletter here.
