Enjoy it while it lasts! Sunny weekend weather to be followed by rain and thunderstorms

It's set to be a largely sunny weekend with temperatures set to hit 21c before a change to rain and thunderstorms early next week.

The Met Eireann forecast for the next few days includes plenty of sun and scattered showers with thermometers to reach 21c right in time for the weekend. However, the wet weather looks set to make a quick return early next week with heavy downpours and possible thunderstorms on the cards.

It will be a cloudy start today across Leinster and Munster with some patches of rain, drizzle and mist, while generally dry in Connacht and Ulster with sunny spells developing as overnight patches of mist and fog clear.

Met Eireann says is will brighten up across most of the country during the afternoon with a mix of cloud and sunny spells along with the chance of a few heavy showers breaking out towards evening time. Maximum temperatures generally ranging from 17 to 21 degrees but a little cooler along the northwest coast in moderate northerly breezes.

Showers are expected to die out early tonight to leave a dry night across much of the country. However, areas of mist and fog will form as winds generally falling light inland. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.

Saturday

Mist and fog will clear on Saturday morning to leave a day of sunny spells and scattered showers. Showers will be most frequent in the east and south with the odd heavy downpour possible. Highest temperatures generally ranging from 16 to 19 degrees but a little cooler across north Ulster and north Connacht with moderate to fresh northerly winds.

Sunday

It looks set to be a predominantly dry day on Sunday with good spells of sunshine. A few showers will develop in the afternoon, mainly across the Midlands and South. Highest temperatures of 18 to 21 degrees with light northerly or variable breezes.

It looks mostly dry on Sunday night with any showers clearing early on. A few patches of mist or fog may develop as winds fall light. 

Monday

There will be long spells of sunshine on Monday with highs of 22 degrees in places before showers break out with the possibility of thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms will continue in some areas on Monday night with a spell of persistent rain expected to develop in the west and southwest. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with light southwest or variable winds.

Tuesday

Current indications suggest Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with showers and longer spells of rain pushing east. A few heavy or thundery downpours cannot be ruled out. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in moderate westerly winds.