Clear skies and sunshine likely to continue until midweek, Met Éireann says

The sun shines above the The Old Head in Kinsale. The best conditions on Monday and Tuesday are likely to be seen in the south and west of the country. Picture Eddie O'Hare

The clear skies and sunshine seen in much of the country over the weekend look set to continue until at least the middle of this week, according to the latest forecast from Met Éireann. 

The forecaster says that Monday, like Saturday and Sunday, will be largely dry and sunny, particularly in Munster and Connacht. 

Sunday was, according to Met Éireann, the warmest day of 2024 so far with one weather station at Newport Furnace, Co Mayo, recording a temperature of 20.1C. 

While the mercury is not expected to climb that high on Monday, it will still be quite warm, with temperatures ranging between 12C and 18C. 

It will also be quite clear, but cloud will extend across Ulster and Leinster on Monday morning and further to the west and south by the afternoon. 

Today will be largely dry

The best of the sunshine will be in Munster & Connacht🌤️

Cloud will extend across Ulster & Leinster this morning & further to the west & south this afternoon🌥️

Highest temperatures of 12 to 18 degrees, coolest in the north and mildest in the south🌡️ pic.twitter.com/a2mAjTrULg

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) April 22, 2024

Met Éireann says Tuesday will begin with "a fair amount of cloud in Connacht and Munster and perhaps a little drizzle" early sunshine in Leinster and Ulster extending to most of the country by about midday. 

Thereafter, conditions will remain fine for the rest of the day. Highest temperatures on Tuesday will range from 11C to 16C with moderate northerly breezes.

Tuesday night will again be cold, with temperatures dropping down to between 1C and 5C. It will be mostly dry with clear spells and some patches of mist or fog. 

Wednesday too will be largely dry and sunny, though, with temperatures of around 10C to 13C forecast, it will be somewhat cooler than Monday or Tuesday. 

There is a possibility of frost in some areas on Wednesday night, with the mercury likely to fall back to between -1C and 3C.

Overall, Thursday will be similar to Wednesday, with cool and mainly dry conditions forecast. There may be a few showers in the southwest by the early afternoon. Highest temperatures on Thursday will range from 9C to 12 degrees in light variable breezes. 

Thursday night will be dry and cold with frost in places and temperatures likely to fall below freezing. 

The cool and mainly dry weather will carry on through to Friday, when a mix of cloud and sunshine is forecast. Temperatures on Friday will be lower than in previous day, ranging from 8C to 11C in light northerly breezes.