An urgent weather alert has been issued by Met Eireann for 15 counties as the country prepares for a week of scorching weather.
The status yellow rainfall and thunderstorm warning is valid for all counties in Leinster, as well as Tipperary, Cavan and Monaghan.
It will be in effect over an eight-hour period on Monday from 2pm until 10pm, with heavy showers, isolated thunderstorms and a risk of localised flooding forecast.
The warning comes as a heatwave is expected to arrive within days, bringing with it temperatures as high as 26 degrees.
The national forecaster predicts that the mercury will hit the mid-20s for the week, with things really beginning to sizzle as the weekend approaches.
Highs of 23 degrees will kick off the balmy period on Tuesday when a cloudy start will lead to widespread sunny spells, particularly in the south and east of the country.
Wednesday will bring a mix of cloud and sunny spells in the morning but it will become predominately cloudy throughout the day.
Patchy drizzle will continue to affect northern and western coastal counties at times but it should be dry elsewhere.
Highest temperatures will be between 18 to 23 degrees, but a degree or two cooler in Atlantic coastal counties where it will stay mostly cloudy, with light to moderate westerly winds.
As for Thursday, a warm day is forecast with most areas staying dry with sunny spells developing in the afternoon.
Temperatures will once again reach highs of between 18 to 23 degrees, coolest in Atlantic coastal counties and warmest in the south and southeast.
Met Eireann says that Friday will really bring the heat, with temperatures hitting 20 to 25 degrees, and even 26 degrees in parts of the country.
Current indications suggest that the weekend will be very warm with highest temperatures widely be in the mid-twenties.
It will be mostly dry too with some good sunny spells, though patches of drizzle will still occur.
