Rays of light: sunny and warm Easter forecast

GET THE sun cream out and the barbecues ready – the forecast suggests that the great weather is likely to continue over the weekend.

The showery conditions that normally occur during April have been largely absent as the country enjoys large doses of sunshine and above-average temperatures.

The good news from Met Éireann is that the fine weather will last throughout Easter.

Forecaster Gerry Murphy said temperatures yesterday reached a high of 19 degrees compared to average temperatures of between 12 to 14 degrees for April as a whole.

Temperatures are forecast to rise even higher as the weekend approaches, before cooling slightly early next week.

Its very well above average in terms of quality of weather at the moment,” said Mr Murphy.

“April is usually associated with very showery conditions but the month so far has been very dry, with rainfall below average for everywhere except west Connacht.”

Mr Murphy said the warm, humid weather experienced this week would continue over the next few days despite brief downpours in some parts of the country.

“You couldn’t rule out the odd shower here and there but it will be a mostly dry picture, staying mild initially and getting cooler as the weekend goes on, but not exceptionally so.

“It does become gradually cooler over the weekend but it will stay mostly dry throughout Easter,” he added.

Today will be dry and mild with the possibility of a little drizzle in the north and northwest early in the day, but this will die out as the day continues.

Temperatures will reach between 16 and 21 degrees with the west of the country enjoying the hottest weather.

The forecast for tomorrow is more mixed, with mostly dry weather in the east but some showery rain hitting the west soon after daybreak and spreading eastwards during the afternoon.

However, the rain will clear later in the night. Temperatures will remain above average during the day with a maximum of between 17 and 21 degrees predicted.

Saturday will be a bright and dry day with some pleasant sunshine with temperatures in the high teens and possibly reaching higher.

Temperatures are expected to drop to between 15 and 18 degrees on Easter Sunday and to between 12 and 16 degrees on Easter Monday.