Warmest day of the year recorded in Kerry
Valentia Observatory in County Kerry has recorded the highest temperature of the year on Thursday afternoon.
The mercury level rose to 18.5C at the Met Éireann station at 2.30pm, which beats the annual high of 17.6C recorded at Mace Head in Galway on March 9th.
Shannon Airport in County Clare has recorded 18C, while Claremorris in County Mayo saw the temperature exceed 17C between 2pm and 3pm.
The coldest spot in Ireland at 3pm was Belfast which was a much cooler 12.2C.
Temperatures will rise to between 13 to 15C during Friday but will dip sharply to between 6 and 8c in western counties during Saturday as rain clears.
It will feel bitterly cold here after moderate southeasterly winds switch north-westerly for the afternoon. Temperatures will remain between 11 to 13C further east but will drop here too by late evening.
Temperatures will be above the seasonal average next week, ranging from 10 to 14C.
