Scorchio! Is summer actually starting?

A cold and miserable May to date is set to give way this week to soaring temperatures and blue skies.

Temperatures of between 23 and 24 degrees can be expected in the west later this week as a high pressure ridge settles over the country.

The east is enjoying the best of the sunshine today, with temperatures 18 degrees and rising.

The early summer weather is being driven by warm easterly winds coming in from the continent gradually spreading across the country.

The warmest temperatures can be expected on Thursday or Friday. The sunburn index will be between 6 and 7 so people have been advised to wear suncream.

Some easterly breezes will keep the temperature cooler close to the south and east coasts but it will still be pleasantly warm and sunny.

Temperatures will fall back over the weekend with rain expected in the south, but it will still be warmer than of late.

Met Éireann forecaster Sandra Spillane said night-time temperatures will be the same as day-time temperatures were last week and almost all the country will have a pleasant week.

The figures for May to date have shown it be colder and wetter than usual.

The average temperature recorded to date at Dublin Airport this month has been a paltry 7.6 degrees, almost three degrees below normal for the time of year.

In Mullingar, it was been 2 degrees below normal and Cork Airport has been 1.8 degrees below normal.

While March was gloriously warm and sunny for the time of the year, temperatures in April were colder than they had been for at least a decade.