Ireland could be as hot as Barcelona over the May bank holiday weekend as temperatures are set to soar.
Dry, warm weather is expected from Friday onwards with highs of 19C predicted.
This is comparable to the 19C expected in Barcelona on the same day, and even hotter than the 17C forecast for Bilbao in northern Spain.
However conditions will be wetter than usual throughout the week, with downpours expected from Tuesday.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "A few showers during Monday but mainly dry with periods of sunshine. Highs of 11 to 16C.
"A wet start on Tuesday morning with occasional heavier bursts of rain.
"A clearance will develop in the western half of the country during the afternoon but the rain will continue on the eastern side of Ireland until evening time. Highs of 12 to 15C.
"A bright start to the day on Wednesday with good sunshine during the morning time.
"It will turn showery around midday with some heavy showers in the afternoon and evening. Highs of 12 or 13C."
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Conditions will improve however as the bank holiday arrives, with weather experts predicting a dry and mild end to the week.
A forecaster added: "Over Friday and the weekend there will be a good deal of dry weather with temps ranging from 15 to 19C."
