Bye bye blue skies: Rain set to return

Gold medals and blue skies have combined to lift our collective spirits as a nation over the last few days, but the latter at least will soon be coming to an end, according to Met Éireann.

The barbecues may have been on full blast and the brollies converted to parasols during the recent spell of sunny weather, but a familiar foe beckons from Sunday, according to forecaster Sandra Spillane.

“Most of the country should remain dry, clear and bright on Saturday, with top temperatures getting up to 24 or 25 degrees, but cloud will build in the Southwest which may bring about some rain and drizzle in the region,” Ms Spillane said yesterday.

Temperatures soared to 26 degrees celsius in some places yesterday, with many hoping that this would signify an extended reprieve from the wash-out experienced so far this season.

However, the frozen treats and warm-weather attire to which we’ve fleetingly become accustomed won’t be needed for another week.

“Sunday will mark a downturn in conditions, as low pressure arriving from the East will bring about more cloudy conditions with the risk of thundery downpours in places.

“Temperatures will suffer accordingly, falling back to the late teens before tumbling even further on Tuesday and Wednesday as the cloudy conditions persist,” said Ms Spillane.

With parts of the country suffering from extensive and severe flooding over the course of the last few rain-sodden months, the Government had been forced to issue a €10m flood assistance fund in order to aid the clean-up in affected areas.