Sunday Roast
Thousands hit beaches and soak up sunny sports fixtures
IRELAND basked in brilliant sunshine yesterday with temperatures reaching the low 20s in some areas by mid afternoon.
Thousands of people headed to beaches and parks around the country while the good weather made for perfect playing conditions for the big GAA football and hurling fixtures which took place.
While the weather will be changeable in the coming days Met Eireann is forecasting a hot May with two weeks of above average temperatures.
The country is heading for a mild week with unsettled weather at times but this will be followed by 14 days of fine, sunny conditions. But before we
can reach for the sunblock there will be a period of changeable conditions but the outlook is much better after next weekend. In a statement Met Eireann said from around next Monday there will be a noticeable change in the weather.
It added: “High pressure looks set to dominate with more settled conditions expected.
“This will cause rainfall amounts to be below average, and temperatures will be higher than normal for mid-may, winds will be light to moderate with variable cloud cover.”
And that looks set to be followed by another lovely week, the forecast adds: “Looking ahead to week three,
similar conditions can be expected with a signal for rainfall amounts to remain below average, and temperature to remain slightly above normal for late May.” Yesterday the east of the country had the best of the sunshine but most areas remained dry.
Huge crowds turned out for the big GAA fixtures which saw Limerick defeat Tipperary in the Senior Hurling Championship at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
While in football, big crowds watched Galway take on Leitrim in the Connacht Championship while in Ulster there was also a big turnout for the clash between Donegal and Cavan.
But yesterday’s good weather will not be repeated today as rain will gradually spread as the day goes on.
Met Eireann added: “Rain in the
west and north-west will spread across the rest of the country during the morning and early afternoon, turning heavy at times.
“The rain will clear from most areas by evening, but may linger in the south-east, and will be followed by sunny spells and scattered showers.
Some of the showers will be heavy, particularly in the north-west later.
“It will be breezy with a moderate to fresh southerly wind, occasionally strong. Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C.
“Clear spells and scattered showers, with any rain clearing from the southeast early in the night.
“South-westerly winds will be mostly light to moderate but will become fresh at times in the northwest. Lowest temperatures of seven to 10 degrees.”
According to forecasters, tomorrow will be a bit less rain and more sunshine. They said: “Tuesday will be breezy with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers.
“During the evening, the showers will become isolated, and clouds will increase across the northwest. Highest temperatures of 11 to 16 degrees, mildest in the south-east, in a fresh and gusty southwesterly wind.
“A band of showery rain will move into the north-west early on Tuesday night and will be heavy at times, but will break up as the night goes on.
“Elsewhere dry with clear spells, but rain may move into southern coastal areas by morning. Lowest temperatures of six to 10 degrees with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds becoming light overnight.”
There is some uncertainty about conditions on Wednesday but it looks like rain will affect southern areas with sunny spells and isolated showers further north.
Thursday will be a cloudy day with well scattered outbreaks of light rain and light to moderate south-westerly breezes and it will feel cooler with highs of 11C to 13C.