Ireland is set to be cloudy and wet in places this morning. However, cloud will clear, with bright and sunny weather to develop in the afternoon.
Met Eireann has predicted temperatures to rise as the month continues, with a high-pressure system moving across the country to see the return of sunnier times.
Forecasters have said: “There are some slight indications for high pressure to be more dominant than usual,” which could mean less rainfall and more sunbathing.
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Meanwhile, Jim Dale, a meteorologist at British Weather Services, told the Evening Standard that “hot weather could come in fairly early as far as April is concerned perhaps.”
(Image: Collins Photo Agency)
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see 26C, 27C, 28C in the middle of April.”
Thankfully, the heat in the UK is likely to trail off into Ireland.
Mr Dale explained: “Given what’s happening globally in terms of the temperature profiles in the southern hemisphere and what’s also happening in the United States, I would not be surprised if we started to see some big highlights – in whichever direction it goes, either cold or hot.
“It is more likely that we see those spikes of heat at early stages because of global warming.
“I would not be surprised to see the Summer deliver the same kind of heat stress at times.”
Here’s a closer look at Met Eireann’s forecast over the bank holiday weekend.
St Patrick’s Day, March 17
St Patrick’s Day will start a little cloudy with a few showers moving across the country. However, the showers will have eased by the afternoon, and bright and sunny weather will develop.
Moderate southwesterly winds will ease late afternoon, and our highs should reach 10 to 14 degrees, warmest in the south.
Staying dry and calm through the evening. Clear skies and light winds will allow temperatures to drop below freezing in some central areas, with possible overnight frost.
Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees are expected.
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Friday, March 18
Dry with good sunny spells for Friday, but a little cloud will develop in the afternoon for southern areas and western coastal counties.
It will be noticeably milder with highest temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees in a southeast breeze.
Staying dry with plenty of clear skies and a little milder overnight, too, with that southeast wind persisting.
Lows of 3 to 6 degrees expected overnight, with the east of the country being the coolest.
Saturday, March 19
The rather pleasant, dry and sunny spell of weather continues for Saturday, with highs reaching the low-teens with 10 to 15 degrees expected.
Staying dry in the southeast breeze through to Saturday evening, but one or two showers will clip Munster.
Clear skies overnight, but that southeast breeze persisting will help keep the overnight lows up slightly with 3 to 6 degrees forecast.
Sunday, March 20
A little more cloud will build along western counties where there will be a few showers, too, during the morning and afternoon.
Further east, bright and sunny spells will develop with a moderate southeast breeze. Continuing mild with highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees.
Later in the evening, the clear skies over the eastern half of the country will allow temperatures to drop below freezing, with some frost patches possible.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism