THE WEST AND NORTHWEST OF IRELAND SET FOR THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES OF 2018 THIS WEEKEND

Latest GFS chart for the bank holiday showing showen temperature in the low 20s to mid 20s possible – image from the GFS net weather model

This week and weekend Ireland will see it warmest period of weather yet of 2018 with temperatures over the west and northwest of Ireland set to be in the low 20s over the week and then into the mid 20s this weekend and next week.

It will be warm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday across Ireland with temperatures in the west, northwest and south east getting up to around 19C to 22C in very nice sunshine. Across eastern parts temperatures will more typically be around 17C to 19C due to a onshore easterly breeze.

On Friday there will be the risk of Thundery showers triggering off across parts of Munster and the midlands mainly inland areas.

Over the rest of this month and into June a very strong area of high pressure will sit over Ireland

Continues below

Moving into the Weekend Saturday warmer and much more humid weather will arrive over Ireland with temperatures on Saturday get up to 23C in the west and northwest with temperatures elsewhere between 17C to 20C across Ireland. Saturday Ireland will be basking in the sunshine. It will be warm and humid on Saturday night with temperatures in the mid teens in places over night. At present on Saturday afternoon and night I am watching for the potential for heavy thundery outbreaks across parts of Ireland.

Sunday again looks set to be even warmer over the west and northwest of Ireland and across Ireland in general, over the northwest and west temperatures on Sunday could get as high as 25C with temperatures elsewhere between 19C to 22C. Again Ireland will be basking in sunshine but there will be a risk of thunderstorms over the country again in the afternoon due to the very warm and humid conditions. Warm and humid again on Sunday night so it will be hard to sleep.

Monday to Friday next week temperatures will range between 22C to 25C over the west and northwest of Ireland where it will be warmest and humid due to this warm and humid flow coming from the continent. Over next week there is a high risk of thunderstorms in large parts of Ireland due to the very humid conditions on some days these could be fairly severe.

Moving into next weekend and the following week temperatures look set to remain into the high teen and low 20s on current models which would lead to a nice pleasant bank holiday weekend. At the moment it is still not fully clear at what will happen over the bank holiday weekend our when this warmer spell will break down. Some indications suggest when it does break down we will go into a northerly flow.

**High pressure over Ireland and the UK this weekend**

**Warm humid air been directed towards Ireland and the UK early next week**

**Risk of thunderstorms this weekend and over next week across Ireland due to very warm and humid conditions**

WEATHER NEWSKenneth McDonagh22 May 2018may, 2018