'Enjoy it while it lasts' - Met Éireann predict brutal weather u-turn for Ireland

It is a case of enjoy it while it lasts on the weather front in Ireland as Met Éireann predict a brutal change over the next few days.

The country is currently enjoying temperatures in the low to mid-20s as thousands of people flock to Laois for the 2024 National Ploughing Championships. The warm spell will last for the duration of the event which concludes on Thursday but heading into the weekend and next week, an unsettled u-turn is on the way.

In its latest forecast, Met Éireann says: "Any mist and fog patches will soon clear and it will be another dry day today, Wednesday, with long spells of sunshine developing. Highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees, coolest near east and south coasts due to a light to moderate easterly wind.

"Dry tonight with mostly clear skies. Mist and fog patches will form in light easterly or variable breezes. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 11 degrees."

Its forecast for Thursday reads: "Any mist and fog patches will clear tomorrow, Thursday, morning. It will be another dry day with long spells of sunshine. Highest temperatures of 20 to 24 degrees generally, but a few degrees cooler near the east coast due to a light to moderate easterly wind."

The outlook beyond that predicts weather to be "mainly fine at first" but "cloudier with an increased chance of showers over the weekend mainly in the east and south."

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They add: "Dry on Thursday night under largely clear skies. Mist and fog patches will form in light northeast or variable breezes. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees.

"Areas of mist and fog will clear on Friday morning and another dry day with plenty of sunshine is expected for many. It may be a bit cloudier at times near the east coast though, with the chance of a light shower. Highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees, coolest near the east coast in a light to moderate east to northeast wind. It'll hold dry in most places on Friday night, with some clear spells, especially in the west, and with a few patches of mist and fog. Cloudier further east with the chance of a few drizzle patches or light showers. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees in light to moderate east to northeast breezes.

"Saturday will start out a bit cloudy with patchy drizzle affecting mainly parts of Leinster and Munster. It should brighten up in the afternoon and evening with sunny spells developing for many, but the chance of a few showers also. It will likely hold dry in the west and north, though. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees, coolest in the east in mostly moderate easterly winds. Clear spells and a few showers, mainly in the east and south on Saturday night. Drier further north and west with a few mist and fog patches. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees in light to moderate northeast breezes.

"The best of the sunshine on Sunday will in the west and north. It'll be cloudier further south and east with scattered showers or perhaps longer spells of rain. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in light to moderate northeast breezes."

Beyond that into next week, things could take another turn for the worse.

"Monday is looking largely dry with just a few showers. Still some uncertainty for the following days, but current indications suggest it'll turn more unsettled with some wet and breezy conditions at times," Met Éireann concluded.