Warmer temperatures are forecast to return in days after the current gloomy weather.
Met Éireann says mixed weather will bring Ireland over the next few days, with thunderstorms, hail, heavy downpours and fog expected between spells of sunshine.
But next week there is an early taste of summer weather with increasing temperatures and calmer conditions.
Spain is currently experiencing a record heat wave and it is possible that this could affect the weather in Ireland.
The temperature reached a scorching 38.7C in the popular holiday destination this week as a very hot air mass rushed from North Africa across the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
Long-term weather maps are showing signs that warmer air could pass through France and even touch Ireland next week.
Irish weather expert Alan O’Reilly shared models on his Carlow Weather social media accounts, writing: “Spain actually hit 38.7C at Cordoba Airport on Thursday. The heat will ease off a little there now but warmer air will push up again next week and we will see milder air too with temps up to high teens tomorrow and over the weekend and possibly even 20C next week,” reports The Mirror.
Met Éireann has ruled out a “mini heatwave” but confirmed that “a lot of dry and mild weather next week”.
It said: “Mean air temperatures will be above average for early May by 2C or 3C with frost free conditions expected too. Overall next week it will likely be drier than normal for most if not all areas,” reports The Mirror.
Giving a day by day breakdown of the weather, Met Eireann said: “Cloudy at first Saturday morning with some mist or fog in parts, dry for many with isolated showers. Cloud will lift with sunny spells developing during the day although coastal fog may linger locally. Scattered heavy showers will break out in the afternoon and evening. Local downpours bring a chance of isolated lightning, hail and spot flooding. Highest temperatures of 15C to 18C, perhaps reaching 19C. Mostly light southerly or variable winds, occasionally moderate,” reports The Mirror.
“Largely dry in the south early Saturday night with heavy showers continuing further north. Mostly cloudy and becoming misty with some fog patches. Further showers will spread from the Atlantic during the night. Lowest temperatures of 8C to 11C. Light breezes, mostly southwesterly in direction,” reports The Mirror.
“Another mostly cloudy start Sunday with scattered showers, heavy for a time early on near the east coast. Cloud will break up to sunny spells during the day. Showers will turn heavy or possibly thundery later in the day, mainly in the east and north, bringing a risk of spot flooding and hail. Highest temperatures of 15C to 18C for many, cooler along Atlantic coasts. Light or moderate westerly breezes,” reports The Mirror.
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