Deirdre O Meara 
The sunny weather we have been enjoying is set to continue until the weekend when rain is expected to make an appearance. Despite this, high pressure will keep most of the clouds away, and weather expert Alan O’Reilly has warned that another “blast of cold” is expected next week. He took to Twitter to say, “You could get used to this heat, but sadly the weather models don’t want to! Both of the main models are showing another blast of cold around the 24th. Gardeners, keep that in mind.” Temperatures are expected to reach the high teens before the cold front returns on Monday.
Met Eireann’s forecast for today indicates that low cloud, mist, and fog may linger in some parts of the country, but there will also be some good sunny spells and the chance of a few isolated showers. The highest temperatures will be between 13 to 17 degrees, with the coolest areas being near the coast in light to moderate southeast breezes.
Tonight, it will be dry with clear spells early on in light southeast breezes. However, mist and fog will set in, turning dense in parts. Low cloud will also increase with patchy drizzle developing locally. The lowest temperatures will be between 7 to 10 degrees.
Tomorrow, any mist and fog will clear quickly through the morning, leaving a mostly dry and sunny day. Brisk moderate easterly breezes will keep temperatures in the east between 11 and 13 degrees.
Tomorrow night will be mostly dry and clear in moderate easterly breezes. However, there will be an increase in cloud in the east later in the night, leading to a stray light shower or two. It will be chilly, with lows of 4 to 7 degrees.
Wednesday will be a cooler and cloudier day overall, with a scattering of showery outbreaks expected through the morning. However, sunny spells will develop in most parts during the afternoon, although showers may persist in the south. The highest temperatures will be between 11 to 14 degrees, in mostly moderate easterly breezes.
Any showers in the south will gradually die away overnight on Wednesday, with good clear spells elsewhere. Temperatures will dip to between 4 and 8 degrees in mostly moderate easterly winds, although they may be fresh at times in the south.
Dry and sunny conditions will return for Thursday, although the wind will dictate the temperatures. Mostly moderate easterly winds will limit highs in the east to between 11 and 13 degrees, but temperatures will get up to between 14 and 16 degrees in the west. Thursday night will be mostly dry and clear but chilly, with lowest temperatures dipping to between 2 and 6 degrees away from the coasts in light to moderate easterly winds.
Friday has a high degree of uncertainty, with more cloud about generally and the chance of showers at times. Highs will hold between 11 in the east and 15 degrees in the northwest in moderate to fresh east winds. The weekend also has an increased chance of rainfall and generally more unsettled conditions.
In conclusion, while the sunny weather is set to continue for a few more days, it is important to keep in mind the possibility of colder weather and showers next week. Stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts and take precautions accordingly.
