Ireland weather to flip flop over next few days but there's more good news
Ireland is currently basking in 22C temperatures amid a late summer sun blast
Ireland looks likely to say goodbye to the summer sun of the last few days on Monday but the nice weather could make a comeback sooner rather than later, according to one weather forecaster.
Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel made the flip flopping weather prediction in his latest forecast which warns of uncertainty and changeable weather on Monday and Tuesday, but a return to high pressure on Wednesday.
He said: "Who’d be a weather forecaster? Not many when dealing with Irish meteorology and the changeable nature of the weather models which we use as a guide. There has been an element of confusion regarding the weather for Monday and Tuesday, which has led to some challenges for us forecasters.
"What’s certain is that [Saturday] will be another glorious late summers day with plenty of sunshine right across the country. What’s also certain is the return of cloudier weather with some rain for the west and southwest on Sunday, but most places will remain dry as that weak front dies out.
"The uncertainty in the forecast is on Monday and Tuesday. The majority of weather models indicate dry weather will prevail for this period albeit a little cooler and with more cloud around, however the ECMWF has remained stubborn and wants to bring a risk of heavy thundery downpours.
"Either which way the weather models then become certain once more of high pressure reestablishing itself from Wednesday onwards leading to a continuation of dry settled weather with temperatures possibly warmer up once more as our winds look to become easterly for a time."
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has made similar predictions for the coming days. Their outlook says things will be "changeable and mixed again for the early days of September and the meteorological Autumn with low pressure taking hold, bringing showers or longer spells of rain. However, there'll be some good dry spells in parts with some sunshine."
Before that break, we will see a little more sun. Met Éireann says "today [Saturday] will be a pleasant, dry day with good sunny spells after some early mist and fog in places. It'll become a bit cloudier along south and southeastern coasts in the evening. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees with mostly moderate southeast winds, warmest across the midlands and west.
"Mainly dry tonight with good clear spells. Cloud will increase in parts of the east and south with perhaps the odd spot of drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 13 degrees in light to moderate easterly winds."
For Sunday, the first day of September, they predict that "there'll be a good lot of dry weather with a mix of cloud and some bright or sunny intervals, and the odd light shower especially in the northeast. Through the afternoon, persistent and at times heavy or thundery rain starting to move in from the southwest.
"That rain will slowly spread northeastwards over the course of the rest of the day, mainly over Munster and west Connacht. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees in moderate southeasterly winds, fresher in the southwest," they added.
"Rain will continue to move slowly northeastwards on Sunday night, some of it heavy. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in mostly light east to southeast winds, but strong northwest winds developing along the west and southwest coast," the latest forecast says.
On Monday, "further showers or longer spells of rain are expected. Some heavy and possibly thundery downpours may occur too. There'll be sunshine in parts also. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees in light to moderate variable or west to northwest winds, stronger along the west and south coast.
"Similar temperatures on Tuesday, though a little cooler in parts, with mixed weather continuing. There'll be some sunshine in parts, but further showers or longer spells of rain too, some of it heavy, with the chance of thunder.
"Wednesday will bring sunny spells and scattered lighter showers. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees in light north or northeasterly breezes.
"The rest of the week will remain mixed, some good dry spells, especially in the northwest, but further rain at times too," the forecast concludes.