Sun and showers mark first day of summer

THE first day of summer may not have had us all rooting out bikinis yesterday, but it did allow us to bask in the sunshine. Between the showers and gales of course.

Throughout the country temperatures reached the low to mid-teens, and most places were bright and breezy, with some rainfall.

The South seemed to have enjoyed some of the best of the heat, while the west and east of the country also experienced the warm weather.

Although yesterday marked the official start of the summer, you might need to keep those woollies and wellies at the ready for the Bank Holiday weekend, according to Met Éireann.

Spokesman Micheal McAuliffe said the outlook for the next few days is not going to see flocks of Irish sunbathers head for the beach: “I’m afraid we won’t be able to take advantage of the outdoors as we did at the Easter weekend.

“There is an area of low pressure coming in which will probably last until Monday. This evening will be dry, but cool and blustery in most areas. Tomorrow we will see rain and wind pushing up from the southwest, and it is expected to be wet and windy almost everywhere.”

He said it may brighten up and dry off late Saturday evening, but heavy showers are forecast for Sunday and Monday: “There might be a couple of hours of dryness here and there, but it would be taking quite a chance to invite the neighbours round for a barbecue,” Mr McAuliffe added.

As you battle to turn your umbrella the right side around in bracing winds and biting rain, spare a thought for those stuck in places like Spain and Portugal who will be forced to endure temperatures ranging from the mid to high-20s. How awful for them.

Met Eireann said that for those jetting off on their holidays to the Mediterranean the weather will not disappoint as it is expected to remain warm and dry.

The month of April meanwhile has been one of the warmest for the last 100 years. At Valentia Observatory and Malin Head the temperatures recorded for the month were the highest since 1893. Daytime temperatures rose above 20°C in most places, and new records were set in stations throughout the country.