Met Éireann hints at return of sun to Ireland - here's when it might arrive

Ireland's mini heatwave came to a crashing end on Monday with thunderstorm warnings and widespread rain but Met Éireann is hinting at a return to the sunshine.

IN its extended forecast, Met Éireann signal a return of high pressure as we head towards the end of July.

In the outlook for this week, Met Éireann says "it looks set to be a rather changeable and unsettled week with low pressure the dominant feature of Ireland’s weather.

"A south or southwesterly air-flow will predominate which will result in higher than average temperatures across most of the country. Rainfall amounts are forecast to be above the seasonal norm with the largest rainfall totals predicted in western and northwestern regions."

However, next week could bring good news. Met Éireann's forecast for the week of July 21 says: "There is a fair amount of uncertainty but high pressure looks set to build in across Ireland at times which will bring a more mixed weather outlook with good dry periods forecast.

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"Air temperatures are forecast to stay above normal across the country and much of northwest Europe also. Rainfall amounts will be down on the preceding week with forecast rainfall totals of around or slightly below the climatological average for late July."

For the week of July 28 and heading towards the August Bank Holiday weekend, the forecast reads: "There are some weak signals for the weather over Ireland and northern Europe to turn rather unsettled with low pressure the dominant driver of the weather. Mean air temperatures are forecast to be around the climatological average. Rainfall totals are projected to be slightly above the seasonal norm."

For the week from August 4, Met Éireann predicts: "Forecast confidence decreases and as we enter into the first full week of August. However, there are some weak signals for the weather to be mixed and changeable with low pressure the more dominant influencer of Ireland’s weather. Mean air temperatures are forecast to be around the August average whilst rainfall totals are predicted to be above normal."