Beach weather for NI or will it be warmer rain?

The weather has taken a turn to chilly, windy and rainy lately, after some hopeful warm spring days.

But temperatures are set to climb across Northern Ireland by the end of next week, following the cooler than average spell of weather.

However, while high pressure is set to bring high temperatures to parts of Europe and the UK, a heatwave is unlikely in Northern Ireland.

Forecast models suggest some places could be up to 10C warmer than in recent days, with highs reaching the low 20s for some by Thursday and Friday.

But the warm weather does not necessarily mean clear blue skies and sunshine.

Early indications suggest some areas could see warmer rain, rather than dry and settled conditions.

Forecasts are most reliable a few days ahead.

Beyond that, the finer details – including where showers hit and how warm it becomes – can change from day to day.

At the moment, high pressure is expected to become more established across Europe from the middle of next week before moving towards the UK and Ireland.

That should bring a trend towards drier and warmer weather for many.

However, northern and north-western areas may still be affected by spells of rain and scattered showers at times.

Despite that, most places are likely to feel noticeably warmer as temperatures rise above the May average of 14.8C.

Not at this stage.

According to the Met Office, temperatures must reach 25C in Northern Ireland for at least three consecutive days for that to happen.

Although temperatures are set to climb into the low 20s in a few spots, current forecasts are not expecting 25C in Northern Ireland.

In the Republic of Ireland, a heatwave occurs when there are five or more consecutive days with 25C recorded at a weather station.

So, while warmer weather is on the way, it's not expected to meet official heatwave criteria.