Happy days! Sunshine and highs of 24 degrees predicted for next week

This summer hasn't been much to write home about so far but that could soon change.

There may be an end in the sight to the rain, wind and chilly temperatures if Carlow Weather's Alan Reilly's predictions come true. The forecaster says that we're in for a spell of warm, sunny weather in the middle of next week.

If the cold weather is getting you down and you want a straw to clutch then these ECMWF charts from +240 hours (i.e. 10 days away and very likely to change) are for you :) pic.twitter.com/NTCbmkS86P

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) June 10, 2019

In a tweet, he did state that the forecast could change between now and then - but we're holding out hope. Swiss forecaster Meteologix is predicting similar weather for next week, with high temperatures of as much as 24 degrees in parts of the country next Wednesday, 19 June. Met Éireann, meanwhile, says the outlook for this week is pretty mixed. Today, it says, will start dry and sunny in many places, though cloud will build in the afternoon and a few scattered showers will develop. It's set to be breezy with highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees. Wednesday, Met Éireann says, will be a cloudy day for many with outbreaks of rain over most of Leinster and Munster. It's expected to be mainly dry in Connacht and Ulster with just patchy rain and a little sunshine. Cool with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees. The following days are forecast to be cool and showery. Thursday will be dry with spells of patchy rain and highs of 13 to 16 degrees On Friday, showery rain will gradually spread across the country on Friday with a few heavy bursts in the west and south. Highs of 12 to 15 degrees.