Ireland is set to enjoy a burst of sunshine and its warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures climbing above those in parts of Spain.
Elsa, Marta, Anna and Leo from Italy enjoying a picnic in the sun at Sandycove, Dublin in May 2025. (Image: Sam boal/Collins Photos)
Ireland is set to bask in its hottest day of the year so far tomorrow, as a sudden burst of warm and sunny weather sweeps in.
Temperatures are forecast to climb to an unseasonably mild 18C on Thursday, and with widespread sunshine expected, it could feel even warmer in places.
In a surprising twist, this would make Ireland warmer than parts of Spain, including popular holiday hotspots such as Benidorm and Barcelona, where temperatures are only expected to reach around 14C.
The change is being driven by an area of high pressure settling over the country, pushing away the usual systems that bring cloud, wind and rain.
It’s a relatively unusual setup for March, which is typically associated with unsettled and changeable conditions. High pressure of this kind is more commonly seen in the summer months – making the upcoming spell feel like an early taste of the season ahead.
According to Met Eireann, any mist or fog will quickly clear tomorrow morning to bring a dry, bright and sunny day with highs of 18C.
The settled conditions will continue into Friday, which is expected to be “dry with plenty of sunshine” and temperatures of around 16C.
Saturday will also stay largely dry with hazy sunshine, however temperatures will dip slightly to between 11C and 14C. There is also a chance of some light rain or drizzle in parts of the northwest.
Conditions will begin to change on Sunday, with the best of the weather expected earlier in the day before cloud builds through the afternoon. Spells of “persistent rain” are forecast to move into parts of Connacht and Ulster later on, with temperatures ranging from 10C to 13C.
Sun lovers are being urged to make the most of the warm spell while it lasts, as more unsettled weather looks set to return next week.
The national forecaster said: “Early next week will be cooler and unsettled with spells of rain and showers. Breezy or rather windy for a time too.”
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