WEATHER FORECAST: Kilkenny to enjoy return of warm conditions, with temperatures rising to 19C

Kilkenny is set to enjoy weather that is “very mild for the time of year” over the coming days after a miserable spell of rain and wind.

In its latest forecast, Met Éireann predicted temperatures of up to 19C later this week. Kilkenny and the rest of the country can expect some balmy weather from the middle of the week and the outlook is positive from then onwards.

Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather also said he expects warm temperatures to hit in a few days time. He forecast: “A cool few days ahead but as hurricane Sam heads for Iceland later next week he will help pull up some warmer air over Ireland. Could be back up to 17C next Thursday, animation shows upper air temperature forecast.”

However, Met Éireann said the mercury could rise to 19 degrees on Thursday and stay high until next weekend.

Until then, today will bring another mix of scattered showers and sunny spells to begin with. A spell of rain will move in from the southwest in the early afternoon and be heavy in places, possibly thundery too, especially near southern coasts and here in the southeast. Elsewhere, there will be heavy showers, with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. There will be light scattered showers and plenty of sunny spells tomorrow, becoming mostly dry in the evening with showers confined to western coastal areas, wiht highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees.

Met Éireann said Wednesday will be largely dry to start “with some early brightness in eastern counties”. It added: “During the morning, light rain or drizzle will develop in western parts with just patchy drizzle developing further east. Rain will turn more persistent in western and northwestern counties in the afternoon. A milder day with highest temperatures of 14 to 17C with a moderate southerly breeze, fresh along the west coast. Cloudy or misty with rain continuing overnight, most persistent across western coastal counties with drier weather further east. A mild night with lowest temperatures of 10 to 14C.”

The national forecaster said Thursday will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain, “mainly affecting the western half of the country where rain will be most persistent,” but it added: “There will be dry spells and occasional brightness in the east.”