After months of rain and gloomy weather, Ireland is set to experience an unexpected and welcome surprise – an early blast of summer heat. This welcome development comes after Met Eireann, Ireland’s national meteorological service, had previously forecast a washout summer. The sudden change in weather patterns has left many joyful, as people start to look forward to spending time outdoors and soaking up the sun. Let’s explore this phenomenon in detail and understand what it means for the people of Ireland.
After a week of incessant rains across Ireland, Met Eireann predicts an early onset of warm summer weather with dry spells beginning Monday and persisting for the next two weeks. The forecast assures normal temperatures accompanied by “less rainfall than of recent” in the coming days, with cloudy skies and mild rain predicted for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The heavy rains continue throughout today, with northern, northeastern and eastern parts facing the worst of it. There is also a possibility of spot flooding in these regions. However, the evening may bring lighter and patchy rains, while some parts of Connacht and Munster are expected to have sunny spells and just isolated showers. Breezy gusts of wind will keep the temperatures between nine to 12 degrees, with the rain clearing out at night.
Tomorrow promises to be mainly dry with spells of hazy sunshine, and mild temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees.
Looking ahead, the monthly forecast from Met Eireann predicts unseasonably warm weather starting next Monday, with high pressure dominating Week 2. While rainfall accumulations will be close to average for the time of year, the south of the country may experience a bit more rain, while the north may see slightly drier conditions. The temperatures, however, will remain marginally above average, with generally westerly winds.
The country’s weather has been largely unpredictable this year, with late winter snowfall being reported in some parts in March. This morning, weather expert Alan O’Reilly tweeted that one model was showing a lot of snow for Easter Sunday, causing panic amongst netizens. However, he later clarified that it was an April Fool’s joke.
Despite bleak weather forecasts causing disappointment among locals and tourists, the early onset of warm summer weather is some relief.
