The upcoming spell of dry and sunny weather is expected to ‘stick around for quite some time’ – but there’s bad news for revellers heading for St Patrick’s Day
Temperatures are set to soar next week(Image: MarianVejcik)
A weather expert has said ‘Spring is set to arrive’ next week as the freezing temperatures and heavy showers Ireland has faced this week will be replaced by a glorious warm and sunny spell.
The country has endured some mixed conditions over the past few days, with the thermometer plummeting to -1C on Friday while it has been wet and windy for most counties.
Thankfully, the weather is set for a dramatic U-turn next week as a band of high pressure will see temperatures rise to a balmy 16C, while it will remain settled and dry across the country, leading to plenty of bright and sunny weather.
According to Cathal Nolan, climate scientist and founder of Ireland’s Weather Channel, the glorious sunny spell will begin on Wednesday.
People enjoy nice sunny weather near Seapoint Beach, in Dublin(Image: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Unfortunately, the glorious spell will begin just after St Patrick’s Day, with persistent rain expected for most counties through the morning and afternoon on Tuesday.
In a video message shared with his followers, Cathal said: “As we go into Monday, we see a warm front pushing up from the southwest, bringing with it a little bit of mist and drizzle in parts of the western and northwest in particular, the best of the drier weather to the east and south.
“For St Patrick’s Day, the early outlook at the moment is for a little bit of a mix as well.
“Drier, brighter conditions in the Midlands and the northeast and east of the country and some areas holding dry elsewhere.
“We will see some outbreaks of light rain or mist, especially so in the west and Northwest and over Hills and coasts in the South and South East, so a little bit of a mixed bag.
“The good news from then [is] on Wednesday, March 18, it looks like we’ll see major Improvement as high pressure becomes more of a feature in our weather.
“In fact, in some cases, it becomes the dominant feature for quite some time.”
People enjoy a nice sunny weather inside St Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin city center(Image: Artur Widak/NurPhoto)
Cathal’s positive forecast was echoed by fellow Irish weather expert, Alan O’Reilly, the hobbyist meteorologist who runs the popular Carlow Weather social media pages
“Here comes the high pressure! Weather models continue to show nice settled weather arriving from Wednesday with good sunny spells and mainly dry weather with lighter winds,” said Alan.
He continued: “Temperatures will rise a little from Thursday also. The fine spell could last over a week with very little rain. We do have a few showery days ahead first and feeling bitterly cold tomorrow Sunday with strong winds after lunch.”
Meanwhile, Met Eireann has said there will be a mix of sunny spells and showers for most on Sunday, with a chance of hail or thunder, with the forecaster warned that some showers may be wintry on higher ground or further north.
You can check out Met Eireann’s forecast for the week ahead below:
Met Eireann National forecast
Sunday (March 15): Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will clear the east coast this morning, giving way to a cool and blustery day with sunny spells and widespread showers feeding in from the Atlantic and spreading eastwards across the country. Some of the showers will be heavy with a chance of hail or thunder and some may be wintry on higher ground or further north. Highest temperatures of 6C to 10C, with fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds.
A mix of clear spells and scattered blustery showers at first tonight. The showers will gradually become confined to further north, with cloudier conditions developing elsewhere through the night, together with outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west. Lowest temperatures of 1C to 6C early in the night, but increasing through the night as cloud spreads. Moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds will also ease mostly moderate southwesterly through the night.
Monday (March 16): Dull, damp, and misty with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading from the west. Becoming breezy too, with moderate southwesterly winds freshening through the day. Highest temperatures of 9C to 12C.
A cloudy night with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle Monday night. Mild with lowest temperatures of 7C to 11C. Breezy too, with freshening southwesterly winds, stronger near Atlantic coasts.
Tuesday (St Patrick’s Day): Starting off cloudy for most with some patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle. More persistent rain in the west will gradually move eastwards through the morning and afternoon, becoming patchier as it does so, and with a clearance to bright spells and a few showers following into the west later in the afternoon. Relatively mild with highest temperatures of 10C to 14C , but windy with fresh to strong south to southwest winds, easing towards evening.
A mostly clear and dry night on Tuesday. Some fog is possible as southwesterly winds become light and with lowest temperatures of 1C to 5C.
Wednesday (March 18): A mostly dry day with just some patchy light rain or drizzle possible in the south. Current indications are that it will be relatively cloudy, but with some brighter spells too. Relatively mild with highest temperatures of 10C to 14C degrees, with just light variable breezes.
Thursday (March 19): Current indications are that it will be a dry day with plenty of sunshine. Highest temperatures of 11C to 16C, with light to moderate easterly winds.
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