There could be a massive 17C temperature swing later this week

Tuesday, St Patrick’s Day, will be relatively mild but noticeably breezy

Met Eireann has delivered its forecast for St Patrick’s Day as it looks like Spring is finally set to spring. After wet and windy conditions dominated over the past couple of months, a welcome spell of extended settled weather is on the way.

Today, Monday March 16, will be a predominantly cloudy day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading north-eastwards through the morning and they will be heaviest across Connacht and Ulster. It will become drier this afternoon with just the odd spot of drizzle developing and there will be mist and coastal fog in some places.

Temperatures will range between 10C and 12C today before dropping back to lows of 4C overnight.

Those planning to attend a St Patrick’s Day parade will welcome the news that it will remain mainly dry in most areas and some sunny spells are even forecast, though it will be quite windy.

A Met Eireann forecaster said: “Tuesday, St Patrick’s Day, will be relatively mild but noticeably breezy, if not rather windy, with outbreaks of rain across Atlantic counties, while staying largely dry elsewhere with some sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees in a fresh to strong and gusty southwest wind.

Of Tuesday evening, they added: “Mostly dry but with some mist, drizzle and fog in places. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 9 degrees, coldest under clearing skies across Atlantic counties, in just light to moderate southwest breezes.”

Plenty of spring sunshine on the way

Midweek will see a significant turn to milder conditions, with highs of between 11C and 16C, and some areas remaining fully dry.

A major temperature swing is forecast for Thursday, which will be a pleasant day with plenty of spring sunshine and it will be noticeably milder. The national forecaster suggests temperatures could even reach 18C at times but there will be a significant shift overnight as it could drop back to lows of 1C.

The general outlook from midweek on will see more settled conditions dominate with mostly dry and fairly calm weather. It will be mild in any spells of sunshine.

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