Northern Ireland is currently enjoying a spell of sunshine, dry conditions, and pleasant temperatures, with highs of around 20 C expected in the coming days.
The high pressure expected over the weekend is welcome news for those heading to the North West 200, the Ulster Final, attending a First Communion or planning a barbeque with family and friends to soak it all up.
But all good things must come to an end, so when can we expect this period of settled weather will last until? Looking to the days ahead, we can expect temperatures up to 20 C on Saturday and Sunday, with weather maps showing dry and sunny conditions will stick around for at least another week.
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Thanks to high pressure lingering over Europe, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has enjoyed a relatively dry spring so far, albeit with relatively low temperatures. Conditions from Thursday through to Saturday are expected to be broadly similar, with dry weather and sunny spells forecast across the country, according to the Met Office.
The Met Office's forecast for Northern Ireland this coming weekend currently reads: "After a chilly but sunny start to [Saturday] morning, it will be another dry, warm and sunny day.
"Still plenty of sunshine in the afternoon, despite some cloud bubbling up. Maximum temperature 19 °C. Remaining largely dry and settled with clear or warm sunny spells on Sunday."
However, things could take a short turn early next week. The Met Office continued: "Becoming cloudier overnight into Monday with risk of some heavy, showery rain. Bright spells and showers Tuesday."
The forecaster's long range forecast from Wednesday, May 13 to Friday, May 23 shows more unsettled conditions are on the way. It reads: "Dry, fine, and largely sunny conditions are most likely for the vast majority of the UK for at least the first week of this period (Wednesday until Sunday), as an area of high pressure builds to the north of the UK before settling right across the country and becoming slow moving.
"This could stay in place right through the period, however beyond the first week there is an increasingly likelihood that conditions could turn wetter and more unsettled as areas of rain, stronger winds, and possibly thunderstorms begin to approach from the west and/or south.
"Winds will mostly be light otherwise, with daytime temperatures generally above average throughout although there is a chance of some chilly nights in places."
Simon Partridge, meteorologist for the forecaster, said of the chilly evenings and warmer days: “It’s a classic sort of spring set-up really. Going into summer, as we get more and more sunshine, the ground warms up more.
“At the moment we haven’t had it (the sunshine) for long enough for the ground temperatures to be that warm, so then overnight, when we get those clear skies, the ground loses temperature pretty quick.”
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