Return to unseasonably hot weather this weekend

Met Éireann are predicting highs of 23 degrees Celsius on Saturday, followed by a warm week, as Europe faces into another heatwave.

Temperatures in southern England are expected to reach into the mid twenties, while in the south of France, the mercury will climb to the mid to high thirties.

Here in Ireland, temperatures will be more tame, but considering we are in the second month of autumn, it will feel unseasonable warm.

As the rain clears through this afternoon, temperatures are expected to sit at between 15 and 18 degrees, with tonight turning cloudy and very mild, as temperatures will not falling below 13 to 16 degrees.

Tomorrow morning, Friday, will see more outbreaks of rain and drizzle, but this will clear northwards during the afternoon and evening and some hazy sunny spells will develop. Highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees.

It will be largely dry and fine tomorrow night, and will remain mild with lowest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees.

On Saturday then, it will be warm and dry, with highest temperatures reaching between 18 to 23 degrees in a southerly breeze, while Saturday night will turn muggy with cloud building during teh evening.

Sunday is set to be a mix of cloud and hazy sunshine, with highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees in a light southwest breeze. Sunday night will be mostly dry with lowest overnight temperatures of 13 to 15 degrees.

Current indications suggest that Monday will be dry, with the best of the sunshine in southern areas. Highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees with light southerly winds.

Forecasters predict it will remain quite warm most of next week with highs in the low twenties, before turning much colder around late Thursday into Friday, October 12 - 13, with a return to cool, or even "wintry weather".