Ireland weather: Expert pinpoints exact day mini-heatwave will begin as 18C swing on the cards

A weather expert has revealed that we can look forward to a spell of warm weather next week with temperatures expected to climb above 20C.

Alan O'Reilly, the hobbyist meteorologist behind the popular Carlow Weather social media pages, took to Facebook to address recent reports that a mini heatwave is set to hit the UK and whether Ireland will see some any the summery conditions.

O'Reilly confirmed that 'there is a chance' a band of warm air will move up towards Ireland next week which could usher in a spell of sunny weather.

However, he warned that the current forecast is "very uncertain" and that we shouldn't be expecting a heatwave just yet.

The weather expert said the spell of warm weather will get underway as we move from Tuesday into Wednesday, which "could see temperatures getting back above 20C".

In a video message shared on his Carlow Weather Facebook page on Thursday evening, O'Reilly said: "Some warmer air moving towards maybe next week. Some people asking me about some headlines, especially for the UK to see 30C.

"Yes it is going to get milder. There is a chance some warm air moving up towards Ireland as well. How far exactly that comes is very uncertain.

"Likely from Tuesday into Wednesday, so Wednesday next week we could see some warmer air over us. How long it lasts? It could be vert short lived.

"If you look at the forecast here of upper air temperatures, you can see those yellows and oranges starting to move up towards Ireland and the UK, and around Wednesday next week it does move up over us and we could see temperatures getting back above 20C in Ireland.

"But it's very uncertain how long it hang around. It could be quite short lived. So yes it should warm up a little bit next week, but I wouldn't be planning on a heatwave."

In their own forecast, Met Eireann confirmed that "there is a good deal of uncertainty in the forecast for the rest of next week" but said that "nearby high pressure looks likely to bring plenty of dry weather and mild or warm conditions".

However, there will be a good deal of wet and windy weather before the warm spell begins, with widespread rain forecast for Friday morning.

The rain will slowly become confined to Leinster and Ulster through the day, with sunny spells and heavy showers set to follow into Connacht and Munster, with the national forecast warning of the potential for isolated thunderstorms and spot flooding.

Thankfully, any lingering rain in the east and northeast will clear early tonight and any showers will ease, leaving a mostly dry night with clear spells and isolated showers, with lowest temperatures of 3C to 8C.

Saturday is forecast to be a bright day with spells of sunshine and just the odd light shower, although it is expected to turn cloudier in the west and northwest later in the afternoon with patchy rain developing.

It will become cloudy on Saturday with some showers expected across the southwest, west and north, but any rain will clear on Sunday morning followed by sunny spells and well scattered showers, with highest temperatures of 14C to 18C.

After a rather cloudy start, it will brighten up through Monday with hazy spells of sunshine developing, along with the odd light shower will occur.

Met Eireann say that current indications suggest that Tuesday will be a warm and sunny day, with highest temperatures of 16C to 20C.

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