Little Sunshine Little Sunshine

YOU MAY HAVE to ditch the heavy overcoat, because it looks like the country is in for a weekend of warm weather.

Currently temperatures are soaring (well, for this time of year anyway) between 10 and 13 degrees around the country, no doubt leaving a lot of cyclists and commuters feeling unseasonably warm when they arrive at their destination.

Even better than fine weather at present is the prospect of fine weather to come – and this particular warm burst looks set to last until close to the end of next week.

It’s all a far cry from the sub-zero temperatures and icy roads seen as recently as last week. Not that we’re complaining.

“It’s quite pleasant certainly,” a Met Éireann spokesman told TheJournal.ie, while confirming that the temperatures country-wide at present are about six degrees higher than what we’ve come to expect from January.

Pictured: the refreshing sight of Ireland experiencing hardly any rain Met Éireann Met Éireann

The average temperatures we’re seeing at the moment are between 9 and 12 degrees, 13 in some places.

Around this time of year you’d be expecting maybe five degrees at best. So it’s certainly unusual.

The fine weather itself is expected to carry through until at least next Thursday when we can expect a return to the colder temperatures more typical of this time of year.

Here’s the forecast in full:

Today: This afternoon will be breezy with sunny spells (particularly in the east of the country) and occasional scattered showers, mostly in the west and northwest. Highest temperatures will be 11 or 12 degrees Celsius. No ice or frost is forecast for this evening.

Shutterstock / Noppharat46 Shutterstock / Noppharat46 / Noppharat46

Saturday: Tomorrow morning will be mostly dry and bright in most areas. Rain unfortunately will develop in the southwest around noon and spread across the country through the afternoon and evening, heaviest in Munster and Leinster. Highest temperatures will remain at their current levels however – 10 or 11 degrees with moderate winds.

Sunday: Is expected to be a bit more cloudy with temperatures remaining constant at 11 to 13 degrees at their highest. Patchy rain and drizzle will be about, while the midlands and the east of the country will remain slightly more dry than elsewhere.

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