Indian summer to bring 22C heat blast to Ireland - but for one day only

Temperatures could hit 22C in parts of Ireland on Saturday in a rare October sun blast, according to Met Éireann.

An unseasonable plume of warm air will make its way to Ireland from mainland Europe but it will now stick around for long so people are being urged to make the most of it.

The sun will arrive on Saturday with Met Éireann saying "current indications for Saturday suggest a rather warm day with maximum temperatures in the high teens or low 20s."

Their air temperature widget on their website shows 22C over parts of the Midlands on Saturday afternoon.

Weather Alerts Ireland added: "Temperatures on this evening's European model is showing temperatures up to the mid twenties and sunny as very warm air is expected to push up from the South.

"It does look as though it would be short lived," they added and warned that there's "plenty of time until then so subject to change."

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather also foresees some sunshine on the horizon. He said: "BBQ Saturday looks to be on! GFS weather model has fallen in line with other models showing warm air moving up over Ireland Friday and Saturday and at present Saturday looking good and dry but risk of rain Sunday and warm air could quickly retreat but uncertain beyond Sunday."

Between now and then, Ireland will endure wetter than average weather again with some widespread showers and heavy downpours at times.

Met Éireann's forecast for the week says: "The coming week will be wetter than average in parts of the west and northwest but drier than average elsewhere. Temperatures around average for the start of October through to Thursday but becoming rather mild for the time of year towards the end of the week.

"Tuesday will be a fresh, breezy day with sunny spells and scattered showers, which will become more isolated through the evening. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees with moderate to fresh westerly winds, coolest in the northwest and mildest in the southeast.

"Mostly cloudy on Wednesday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heaviest and most persistent in the west and north. The best of the drier and brighter intervals will be in the south and southeast. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees, coolest in the north in moderate to fresh, and at times gusty, southwesterly winds easing later in the day.

"Mostly cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle retreating to the west and north on Wednesday night. Light to moderate south to southwest winds, fresher along Atlantic coasts. Lows of 10 to 13 degrees.

"Mostly cloudy on Thursday with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Becoming breezy in the afternoon as southerly winds increase moderate to fresh and gusty. Highest temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees. Continuing damp and breezy on Thursday night, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle retreating to the west and north. Lows of 11 to 14 degrees moderate southerly breezes fresh and gusty near coasts.

"Mild, damp and mostly cloudy to begin on Friday with patchy rain and drizzle. Brightening up through the day with sunny spells developing in most parts by evening. Breezy with moderate to fresh and gusty southerly winds and highs of 17 to 19 degrees."