Met Éireann pinpoint end of 23C warm spell and it's sooner than you think

Met Éireann is predicting a quick demise in our weather fortunes despite Friday being the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures hitting 23C in parts.

The forecast for warm weather will be short-lived, however, with Met Éireann already forecasting temperatures dipping back into the mid-teens in a matter of days.

They say it will be "warm and dry today [Friday] with long spells of spring sunshine. Highest temperatures of 17 to 23 degrees with light to moderate southerly breezes. There is just the small chance of a little coastal mist."

Forecasts add that Friday night "will be dry with clear spells. Patches of mist and fog will develop in the south early in the night and more widely overnight. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees with light variable breezes."

The full Met Éireann forecast for the weekend adds: "On Saturday morning, patches of mist and fog will clear. It will be another warm and dry day with good spells of sunshine. In the evening, cloud will increase from the west and some showers will develop in the northwest. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees with moderate southerly breezes.

"On Saturday night cloud will increase and showers will develop overnight, mainly over the western half of the country. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with light variable breezes."

There is bad news after that with the Met Éireann outlook stating that things look like "turning more unsettled from Sunday onwards with rain and showers at times. Cooler also."

Their forecast elaborates: "Sunday will bring a mix of cloud and sunny spells with showers or longer spells of rain, some heavy with the chance of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees in light and variable breezes. On Sunday night, showers will gradually die out. However, rain will move in from the southwest by morning. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees with light breezes.

"Monday will bring further outbreaks of rain or showers, heaviest over the eastern half of the country with a chance of thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees with light to moderate northerly breezes developing, possibly fresh near some coasts. There'll be further showers in the east on Monday night.

"Early on Tuesday morning a band of persistent or heavy rain will move in from the east and will extend westwards. Localised flooding is possible, especially in Leinster. It will be noticeably cooler than previous days with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees and moderate northwest winds. On Tuesday night there will be further spells of rain or showers.

"Wednesday and Thursday will continue quite cool with further showers, some heavy. Temperatures will range from about 11 to 15 degrees with mostly light to moderate breezes."