Halloween to bring end to unseasonably warm weather

Big changes are ahead as Ireland experiences unseasonably warm temperatures today.

By afternoon the mercury had already hit 19 degrees in Phoenix Park, Dublin, just two degrees from the record breaking top of 21 degrees.

Met Éireann meteorologist David Rogers said today's temperature was six degrees higher than normal.

“It’s well above normal. Certainly along the east coast and Dublin areas are the warmest parts of the country. Six degrees above normal temperatures on the last day of October is exceptional,” he said.

During a 30 year stretch, from 1981-2010, the maximum temperature recorded was 21 degrees.

Mr Rogers said the abnormally high temperatures for this time of the year was due to the wind direction coming from the subtropics.

But Halloween night looks set to bring in the cooler temperatures we are used to at his time of year.

“There’ll be a big change in the 24 hour period,” Mr Rogers said. “Tomorrow night will be noticeably cooler.”

Mr Rogers said rain was coming in from the west and would reduce temperatures considerably this weekend.

“The high temperatures are not going to last much longer. It will be noticeably fresher and definitely unsettled the weekend,” he said.

“And a mixture of sunshine and showers on Sunday.”

But it is not all bad news as Mr Rogers said next week showed no sign of harsh winter weather arriving.

“It will be changeable and quite a bit of continuous rain,” he said.

“But no signs of wintry conditions at present- in the next week anyway”

Tomorrow will have a bright start and become wet and windy along the west coast later in the morning.

A new band of rain will arrive and spread eastwards during the afternoon with top temperature of 14 degrees.

Weather will be unsettled and cooler for Sunday with temperatures more normal for November.

There is also a risk of strong winds near western coast during the night with further rain and showers.

Monday is looking cool and bright with a top temperature of 11 degrees. The night could bring sharp frost as temperatures drop close to zero.