Ireland will see early signs of winter this week as temperatures begin to plummet.
Tuesday will see highs of 19C and plenty of sunshine, but day-time temperatures will fall to 10C by Thursday, while Saturday night will see lows of just 1C.
Meanwhile, despite a sunny start to the week, heavy rain showers will become more persistent as we move forward.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Mostly dry this morning, but cloudy in most areas, with patchy light rain and drizzle on southern, western and northwestern coasts.
"A spell of persistent and locally heavy rain will develop in west and northwest coastal areas early this afternoon and will extend gradually southeastwards during the afternoon and evening.
"Clearer conditions, with scattered showers, will develop in the west and northwest coastal areas later.
"Maximum 15C to 19C, coolest in Atlantic coastal areas, in moderate to fresh south to southwest winds, strong on Atlantic coasts.
"Wednesday will be cool and bright, with sunny spells, but some scattered showers also. Maximum temperatures 11C to 14C, in light westerly or variable breezes, later backing southerly and strengthening on west and southwest coasts.
"Thursday will be quite cold and mostly cloudy, with occasional showers, merging to give longer spells of rain in places, with some heavy bursts in places.
"Some dry spells also. Maximum 10C to 13C, in mostly moderate variable winds at first, but strong to gale force westerly winds on Munster and south Leinster coasts.
"Winds later becoming moderate to fresh northwesterly, strong in coastal areas."
Friday and Saturday night will both be particularly cold, as temperatures fall as low was 2C and 1C, respectively.
However, temperatures are expected to pick up a little bit early next week.
The national forecaster is predicting that Friday and Sunday will be cool and breezy, with a mix of sunny spells and showers, while Saturday will be mainly dry despite cool conditions.
