While the summer sun might still be shining warmly across Ireland, the good times are set to be short-lived. The arrival of the weekend signals the encroaching end of summer as the Irish weather charts predict a cooler, rainier and decidedly autumnal air sweeping over the nation by Sunday.
Indeed, one can expect a sizeable dip in the thermometer readings by the start of the forthcoming week, with temperatures potentially dropping by up to 10 degrees compared to the midweek highs. The retreat of the sunshine leaves only memories.
Nonetheless, there remains some optimism. The morning fog and haze will swiftly recede on Friday morning, paving way for most parts of Ireland to anticipate yet another dry day, replete with generous bouts of sunshine – though patches of cloud could dull the sparkle a bit, predominantly along the eastern shoreline.
Temperature wise, we’re looking at anywhere from 17 to 22 degrees – the lower end of the scale coinciding with the cloudy eastern coast areas, primarily courtesy of a gentle to moderate easterly wind.
As the weekend dawns, the country might wake up under a blanket of fog and mist with slight drizzle in areas — primarily in Leinster and Munster. Despite the gloomy start, the day brightens up in the afternoon, although the prospect of heavy downpours near southern and eastern coastlines during the evening remain, with temperatures hovering between 16 to 20 degrees.
The weather takes a significant turn on Sunday, the respite from rain is temporary and the east will see more rainfall, with potential for heavy and possibly thunderous bouts amid temperatures oscillating between 15 to 19 degrees. The rain persists in the south Sunday night, gradually moving south, whilst the rest of the country stays dry.
While the majority of places will see a dry Monday, temperatures will only reach a high of 18 degrees and will struggle to surpass 15 degrees by Tuesday in westerly winds which will veer easterly as the day progresses.
Lastly, for a comprehensive political discourse and analysis, be sure to tune into our Inside Politics podcast.