Met Eireann confirms odd ‘Arctic blast’ for Ireland but there’s a twist coming

Met Éireann has confirmed that Summer 2024 was the coldest since 2015 and the first cooler-than-average season since spring 2021 but there may be Indian Summer light at the end of the tunnel this week.

The cold records are taken from averages compared to the periods from 1981-2010 and 1991-2020.

They said: “Summer 2024 was cool and relatively dry overall. Several arctic blasts from the north in early June set the scene for what turned out to be the first cooler than average season since spring 2021.

“A zonal jet stream (west to east), directly over or close to Ireland for most of the season, blocked warm air masses to the south from pushing north over Ireland. On the few occasions when the jet stream became more meridional (north to south), such as in early June and early July, its orientation favoured high pressure building north over the mid-Atlantic, which allowed cool Polar maritime air masses to move in over Ireland from the north or northwest,” their statement continued.

Despite this, temperature are set to hit 25C this week, although some areas will see thunderstorms and heavy showers.

The latest forecast says Thursday “will be mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. The best of the sunshine will be in the west and north. There is a chance that some heavy showers will move into the southeast and south this evening. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees with mostly moderate north to northeast winds, strengthening in the southeast later.”

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They add that “there is a chance of a few showers in the south early tonight but otherwise it will be dry with clear spells. Mild and humid with lowest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees, in moderate to fresh north to northeast winds.”

For Friday, things will heat up considerably. Met Éireann says it “will be warm and dry with long spells of sunshine developing in most areas. It will be cloudy at times near the south coast and there is a chance of some showers developing there later. Highest temperatures of 21 to 25 degrees with light to moderate northeasterly winds.

“Mild overnight [Friday night], with the chance of thunderstorms across southern and eastern areas. Some fog in places too. Lowest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees, in light northeast winds.”

Beyond that and into the weekend, it will remain warm and humid. The Met Éireann forecast for Saturday says: “Sunny spells developing after early low cloud, mist and fog clears through the morning and afternoon. Some showery rain may occur in parts of Leinster and Munster with the chance of thunderstorms, but overall there will be a good deal of dry weather. Highest temperatures of 19 to 24 degrees with light northeasterly winds.

“Becoming mostly cloudy overnight with isolated showers, possibly heavy at times [on Saturday night]. Mild again with lowest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees, in light northerly breezes.

“Mostly cloudy on Sunday with scattered showers feeding in from the north. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees, warmest further south, with mostly moderate northwest breezes.

“Current indications suggest Monday will be generally dry with spells of sunshine at times, before rain arrives in the northwest later on,” the forecast concludes.