Weather experts are monitoring a subtropical, Mediterranean airstream that looks set to approach Ireland in July.
Maps show a plume of warm air pushing up from the south and touching Ireland’s south east coast.
But it is expected mostly miss Ireland and instead influence the UK’s weather, where the mercury there could reach up to 30C by mid-July.
Met Eireann has ruled out ‘heatwave’ conditions in its monthly forecast for July, but did pinpoint the exact date “above average” temperatures and “more settled conditions” could arrive. However it noted “uncertainty” in the forecast this far out.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: Met Eireann warns 'unseasonable' conditions on the way for weekend
For the week of Friday, July 14 to Thursday, July 20, it said: “There is increasing uncertainty in the forecast for week 3. There is a slight signal for higher pressure over Ireland, bringing more settled conditions with mean air temperatures expected to be above average. Rainfall values are signalling about normal or drier than average for most areas apart from some northern parts which may see slightly more rainfall than average.”
It comes after Ireland experienced above-average temperatures for most of June. While the month started off with wall-to-wall sunshine, the glorious weather was eventually broken by thunderstorms.
Temperatures have since returned to a more normal range, alongside changeable conditions.
For this weekend, the national forecaster says it will be “unseasonably windy” as low pressure continues to dominate.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect, Met Eireann said: “Most areas remaining dry Thursday with sunny spells and just well scattered showers. Cloud will tend to increase as the day goes on, especially in the west, with patchy rain arriving along western and southwestern coasts late this evening. Highest temperatures will range from 17C to 20C. Light to moderate westerly winds, backing southwesterly later.
“Cloudy and humid Friday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heaviest and most persistent near Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 16C to 20C. It will become rather breezy or windy in the afternoon, with west to southwest winds increasing moderate to fresh and gusty, strong near Atlantic coasts. Winds will veer west to northwest in the evening.
“Unseasonably windy Saturday with sunny spells and showers. The showers will be mostly across the west and north. Top temperatures will range from 15C or 16C in the northwest to 21C in the south and southeast, but it will feel a bit cooler in the moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds which will be strong near northern and northwestern coasts.
“Another rather unseasonably windy day Sunday with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highs of 15C to 20C, coolest in the west and north. Moderate to fresh and gusty west to northwest winds, will be strong along northern and northwestern coasts.
“Largely dry to begin Monday in the south and east with sunny spells, but with scattered showers affecting the north and northwest. Cloud gradually increasing from the southwest with outbreaks of rain spreading northeastwards over the country in the afternoon and evening. Less windy than the weekend with light to moderate southwest winds and highs of 17C to 21C.
“Further outlook is unsettled with low pressure dominating, bringing spells of rain or showers, but some drier and sunnier intervals also. Temperatures generally around average, but a bit below on some days.”
