It might be sooner than you think

Many will recognise that Ireland has endured a very wet start to the year, with rain forecast almost every single day in some parts of the country.

However, those days might finally be coming to an end, as the national forecaster has confirmed Ireland will enjoy a little break from the rain this week.

A high-pressure system is forecast to move across the country, bringing blue skies, bright spells, and plenty of dry weather.

Met Éireann said: "While there'll still be some showers or rain this week, most widespread on Thursday, with a weather front breaking through, Ireland will generally be under the influence of high pressure for much of the week, which means we'll have a good lot of dry weather overall."

However, thanks to a high-pressure system, clear night skies will allow temperatures to drop sharply, creating a dramatic 16°C swing as temperatures fall to -2°C on Monday night before rising to 14°C by Wednesday. Such swings are a common feature of high-pressure systems in spring.

The forecaster added: "Temperatures will be around average to a little above for early Spring, with some pleasant spells of sunshine at times, though there'll be frost on some of the nights."

Met Éireann has forecast that the sun is likely to make a comeback on Tuesday, March 3.

The national forecaster gives a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect: "It'll be largely dry and bright to begin Monday with some sunny spells. However, it'll become cloudier in the west and northwest through the morning with scattered showers moving in, turning heavy at times, with the chance of hail. The showers will move further eastwards through the afternoon and evening, easing as they do and becoming isolated later. Highest temperatures of 8C to 11C with south to southwest winds increasing moderate to fresh through the morning, stronger in coastal parts of the west and north, veering northwesterly and gradually easing mostly light or moderate later, still fresh though along the north coast.

"Any remaining isolated showers will die away early on Monday night, to leave a mainly dry, clear night. Lowest temperatures of -2C to 2C and with winds easing light and variable, some frost and ice will form. The odd patch of mist is possible.

"Tuesday will be a dry and mostly sunny day. It may become a little cloudier later in the day in some southern parts. After a cold, frosty start, afternoon temperatures will rise to between 9C and 12C in light to moderate variable, mainly east or southeasterly breezes.

"Dry with mostly clear skies at first on Tuesday night, with frost becoming fairly widespread for a time. Low cloud will push up from the south overnight, along with mist and fog and possibly a few spots of light rain or drizzle. Lowest temperatures early in the night of 0C to 5C, with the highest values along southern and eastern coasts, in mostly light to moderate southeasterly breezes.

"There'll be some bright or sunny spells on Wednesday, but in general, there's likely to be a good lot of cloud around. While there'll be a lot of dry weather overall, there'll be a little patchy drizzle, along with some mist and fog for a time too, mainly in the south and east, and a few isolated showers are likely to break out later on too in other areas. Highest temperatures of 10C to 14C and becoming breezy through the day with southerly winds increasing moderate to fresh.

"A good lot of dry weather to begin Wednesday night with a mix of cloud and clear spells, though there'll be a few scattered showers along with some areas of mist and fog. Cloud will thicken from the west overnight, with rain spreading eastwards to most areas. Lowest temperatures of 4C to 8 C, in moderate, occasionally fresh, southerly winds, veering westerly later in the night in western areas.

"Cloudy on Thursday morning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle continuing to spread eastwards to all areas. A clearance to mainly dry and brighter weather will push into western areas by the early afternoon, with the clearance slowly extending eastwards to most areas through the rest of the day. Highest temperatures of 8C to 11C in moderate, occasionally fresh, winds becoming mostly north-westerly and easing later.

"Mainly dry Thursday night with clear spells. Cold with lowest temperatures of -2C to 2C with some frost and icy patches.

"It looks like Friday will be mostly dry with some spells of sunshine. Highest temperatures of 8C to 12C. It looks like high pressure will remain the most dominant influence on our weather through the weekend, so a lot of dry weather is expected overall, with some spells of sunshine, though some showers or rain are possible later in the weekend."