No end in sight to sunny, warm, summer weather

The very hot weather is set to make a return on Thursday as the sunshine is to continue all week and into the weekend.

However before then temperatures in the high teens to mid 20s will be "above normal" to the usual highs of 19-21 degrees for July, Met Éireann forecaster Pat Clarke said.

Seaside dips will be more pleasant this week as sea temperatures have risen to above normal, Mr Clarke said. However this rise does not apply to freshwater.

Met Éireann is not yet saying how long the sunshine will continue beyond the weekend. “There is no significant rainfall between now and next Sunday. Thereafter we’ll just have to see,” Mr Clarke said.

The forecast may bode well for those who believe in the legend of St Swithin’s Day, which is today, that if it does not rain today it will bring 40 days of dry weather.

While there may be cloud around early today, warm sunshine will break through quickly in most areas, but this may be slower on the Atlantic coast, Met Éireann has said.

From Thursday the hot weather is set to return, however it will not quite reach the highs of last week, when temperatures touched 30 degrees. The West will be he hottest part of the country with temperatures in the high 20s. It will be a little bit less warm in the east and south due to onshore easterly winds and afternoon temperatures will be in the low to mid 20s.

The roasting days will also see a return of uncomfortable sleeps with hot and humid nights forecast.

Wednesday is the only blip on the sunny horizon for the north and west with some cloud and light rain near the coasts. However the rest of the State is expected to get plenty of sunshine on Wednesday with temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees .

Drought conditions are emerging for farmers especially in the south and southeast. However the definition of a drought is 15 consecutive days in which less than 0.2mm of rain fell. “We are not there yet,” Mr Clarke said.