Can we finally declare it to be summer?...Temperatures expected to hit the 20s next week

It's taken it's time to get here but we can finally look forward to some really nice weather next week with temperatures expected to linger in the 20s for the most of next week at least.

Met Eireann has said it will be dry on Saturday with sunny spells. Highest temperatures will range 17 to 20 degrees. Southeast breezes will be moderate in strength. However the pollen count is expected to be very high.

Scattered outbreaks of rain may move in from the southwest overnight. Misty with hill and coastal fog too. Mild and humid with overnight Saturday with lows of 10 to 13 degrees Celsius, in mostly moderate southeast breezes.

Sunday could be see a damp start with heavy rain also affecting southern counties. Heavy thundery rain in the south will slowly push northwards through the day with high accumulations possible in some relatively short durations. Spot flooding is likely. North Ulster may however hold dry and bright until later in the afternoon. Feeling humid, with highs of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius (south to north), all in a moderate easterly breezes.

Moving into next week latest indications are for very warm and humid weather, with temperatures several degrees above normal, generally into the low 20s, and even a little higher on some of the days later in the week. Whilst there will be lengthy spells of summer sunshine, some heavy thundery showers will break out from time to time too. Easterly breezes will be replaced by more southerly ones later in the week.