Storm Floris blows through as Ireland now braces for a sudden summer sizzle

Irish weather looks to be up to its usual tricks this week with sunny skies quickly replacing the wet winds of Storm Floris.

Met Éireann already issued multiple weather warnings for the Bank Holiday weekend after the storm brought heavy rain, very strong winds and widespread destruction to primarily the northwest.

The weather system has brought winds of up to 90km/h in some areas and is expected to move on towards Scotland on Monday afternoon.

Met Éireann has predicted sunny spells and occasional showers with temperatures rising above the seasonal average.

The national forecaster is also tracking what looks like a return of high pressure and hot weather next week, similar to what we saw earlier in the summer.

High pressure during the summer typically brings calmer conditions, lighter winds and more stable weather patterns, leading to dry, sunny and warm days.

According to the forecast for August 11 to August 17: ‘This week is expected to be predominately settled with high pressure continuing to build from the south before shifting eastwards. A predominately southerly airflow will result in warmer than average temperatures.

‘Drier than average conditions are also expected for much of the country though as the high pressure shifts further eastwards, that could allow some fronts to encroach into the northwest of the country leading to closer to normal rainfall amounts there.’

However, Met Éireann are not the only ones sounding the heat alarm.

Weather models have begun ‘flashing red’, a term used to describe forecast graphics showing above-average temperatures or potential heat spikes, highlighted in deep shades of red.

These maps, which are subject to change, are currently indicating a burst of summer warmth beginning Monday, August 11, with highs of 23C.

Temperatures are signalled to rise to 25C on Tuesday, August 12, hold near 24C on Wednesday, dip slightly into the low 20s for Thursday and Friday, and then bounce back to 25C on Saturday, August 16 and 24C on Sunday, August 17.

Looking further ahead, Met Éireann’s outlook for the following week of August 18 to August 24 is more uncertain but still positive.

It reads: ‘A less clear picture is indicated for Week 3 with just weak high pressure signalled suggesting a decline on the high pressure from Week 1 and 2 but not currently expected to turn unsettled as a primarily easterly airflow will continue to bring warmer and drier than average conditions.’

Meanwhile, the national forecaster has issued a detail breakdown of what the rest of this week will look like, with a mix of sun and rain.

It said: ‘Bank Holiday Monday will start off wet and windy across much of the country with fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, veering westerly, with the strongest winds in the north, reaching gale force in coastal parts there and for a time along the west coast.

‘The rain will quickly clear eastwards through the morning with sunny spells and showers to follow, these becoming a little more frequent in Ulster and Connacht later, but isolated otherwise. Highest temperatures of 16C to 21C , coolest in the north and northwest with the winds moderating through the day, staying strong in northern areas for much of the day.

‘Tuesday, will bring a lot of dry weather overall, with spells of sunshine. There’ll be a scattering of showers for a time, mainly further north. Highest temperatures of 15C in the north to 21C further south, with moderate to fresh west to northwest winds, decreasing light to moderate later in the day.

‘Wednesday will bring some spells of sunshine for a time, the best of these in the east. Overall there’ll be a good lot of dry weather for much of the day, though it’ll turn increasingly cloudy, with some well scattered showers developing in the afternoon and with rain and drizzle moving into western parts later.

‘Highest temperatures of 17C to 20C and it’ll become breezy through the day with southerly winds increasing fresh and gusty and strengthening along western coasts.

‘Any remaining rain in parts of the east and southeast will soon clear to leave a good lot of dry weather overall on Thursday, with sunshine, but with scattered passing showers too. Highest temperatures of 16C to 20C in moderate, occasionally fresh and gusty westerly winds, strong at times in coastal parts of the north and west.

‘Friday is likely to bring a good lot of cloud overall, with some showers, though there’ll be some bright or sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 16C to 20C in moderate to fresh and occasionally gusty southwest to west winds.

‘Our weather will continue mixed into next weekend. At the moment it look like Saturday will bring a good deal of dry weather, with a few showers and some spells of sunshine, before cloud and rain starts to move in from the west later.

‘That rain is likely to clear on Saturday night, with sunshine and a scattering of showers to follow for Sunday.’