Weekend weather: Temperatures of up to 23C forecast for Saturday

According to Met Éireann, Saturday will be significantly drier and warmer from the early morning on as a band of warm air moves up across the country.

Though the weather has been dull and dreary around much of the country today, things look set to improve drastically this weekend, with dry conditions and temperatures higher than 20C forecast.

Thursday's rain will turn heavy at times this afternoon and evening, and there is even a chance of localised flooding in some areas, especially in the southwest. 

By this afternoon, rain will have become lighter and less widespread, though it will still be somewhat breezy and blustery with a moderate to fresh and gusty south to southwest wind. 

Friday

On Friday morning, cloud will give way to outbreaks of rain and drizzle, though rain will gradually clear northwards during the afternoon and evening and some hazy sunny spells will develop. 

Highest temperatures on Friday will range between 16C and 19C in moderate to fresh and sometimes gusty south to southwest wind degrees.

Saturday

According to Met Éireann, Saturday will be significantly drier and warmer from the early morning on as a band of warm air moves up across the country.

Though the mercury is unlikely to surpass the country's all-time October record of 25.2C — set in Kildare on October 3, 1908 — it will come close, with temperatures of up to 24C forecast this weekend. The forecaster says the best conditions are likely to be seen in the South and Southeast.

As cloud builds by the late evening, temperatures will fall back to around 14C or so by Saturday night.

Sunday

On Sunday, rain is forecast for counties along the Atlantic coast, which will spread gradually across the country over the course afternoon.

Temperatures on Sunday are expected to range from 16C to 20C in a light southwesterly breeze.