Met Éireann make big Ireland weather u-turn after shock storm warning

Irish people are holding out hope for a return to summer and Met Éireann have indicated that sunnier climes are on the way, but it's not all good news.

The forecaster's weather outlook says this week will be "drier than average with increasing amounts of sunshine" but there is still plenty of unsettled weather to come.

This update comes after a last-minute weather warning was issued by Met Éireann on Monday evening as thunderstorms rattled across the country, bringing heavy rain and even spot flooding to many areas. 

The warning was valid until late Monday night but has now lapsed with Met Éireann saying that "any patches of mist or drizzle will soon clear to leave a largely dry day [on Tuesday] with a mix of cloud and sunshine.

"The best of the sunshine is likely across the north and east of the country. Maximum temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees in generally light and variable winds.

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"Becoming mostly cloudy tonight with patchy rain and drizzle moving in across the south and west before dawn on Wednesday. Fairly mild and humid with lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light to moderate southerly breezes."

The latest forecast says it will be "mostly cloudy and rather humid on Wednesday with patchy rain and drizzle along with mist on some coasts and hills. There'll be occasional bright or sunny spells, especially in the Midlands and east. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly breezes.

"Generally cloudy with a few patches of rain or drizzle, mainly in Atlantic coastal areas [on Wednesday night]. Mild and humid with lowest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in moderate southwest winds.

"It looks set to start out mostly cloudy on Thursday with scattered outbreaks of rain pushing northeastwards over Ireland," the forecast adds.

"During the course of the afternoon and evening, a clearance to sunny spells and isolated showers is expected to spread across the country. Maximum temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees with fresh and gusty southwest to west winds. Clear spells and isolated showers on Thursday night. Feeling cooler than previous nights with lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate southwest winds.

"It is expected to be a bright and fresh day on Friday with a mix of sunny spells and passing showers. Highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds. There'll be long clear spells and well scattered showers on Friday night. Minimum temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in light southwest winds.

"Long dry and sunny spells are likely on Saturday but there'll be some passing showers around also. Maximum temperatures of 18 to 21 degrees in moderate westerly winds. A dry night is forecast on Saturday night with clear spells and a few mist or fog patches. Minimum temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees with light southwest winds."

Beyond that, they say: "Current indications suggest Sunday will be a dry day with a mix of cloud and sunshine. Maximum temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees in moderate southwest winds."