Highs of 18°C to continue this weekend

Spring has officially sprung!

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 26th Mar 2022
Last updated 26th Mar 2022

What a difference the sunshine makes ☀️

There's no need to pack away the sunnies just yet, blue skies and sunshine are set to stay for the next few days.

Much of the weekend will see a continuation of the dry, settled weather that many have seen over in recent days, with some long spells of sunshine.

Although Monday will still see a good deal of dry and fine weather, by Tuesday a cold air mass will attempt to push into the north of the UK.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Although the UK has had a good deal of fine and settled March weather in recent days, a change is on the way from the middle of next week with colder air spreading down from the north and the increasing likelihood of rain for most areas.

"On the hills in the north, there’s a chance of this falling as snow, although we’ll gain more certainty on that in the coming days."

Northern Ireland's weather forecast 👇

Today: Overnight low cloud, mist or fog will clear soon after dawn to leave a dry day with light winds and plenty of warm spring sunshine. Maximum temperature 18 °C

Tonight: A dry evening and night with late sunshine giving way to clear skies. Light winds. A touch of frost is possible in rural locations. Minimum temperature 0 °C

Sunday: It will be another dry day with light winds and plenty of warm spring sunshine Maximum temperature 18 °C

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday: Most likely dry on Monday, turning increasingly cloudy. Rather cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday with a few showers possible

So let's make the most of the sun while it's here!

Check out some of NI's forgotten beaches just waiting to be explored 👇

Kearney

A long narrow road along the Ards Peninsula will lead you to the charming village of Kearney. The village dates back to the early 18th century, and it's here you'll find stunning walks, coastal floral fauna and a fantastic sand/pebble cove.

Waterfoot

Waterfoot Beach is a tranquil escape for those looking to go off-the-grid for a few hours. The backdrop of Glenariff just adds to the beauty of this location, plus if it starts to cloud over you'll have somewhere nearby to visit and escape the rain.

Rossglass

With the iconic St John's Lighthouse to your left and the majestic Mourne Mountains to the right, Rossglass is an epic hidden gem! The beach offers a mixture of sand and rocks, so there's plenty to see and do as the little ones explore the shallow pools for sea creatures.

Carnlough Beach

Carnlough Beach is crescent-shaped and sandy, with a small harbour at the northern end. The harbour is one of the must see stop offs along the Causeway Coastal route for Game of Thrones fans. Glenarm beach would be a more popular spot with locals, it's just 2km south along the coast.

Brown's Bay

This small beach can be found on the northern tip of the Islandmagee Peninsula, it's the perfect point for a quick dip or even some rock fishing with the kids. On a clear sunny day, you can even see Scotland in the far-off distance.

Read more:

11 family-friendly walks and parks across Northern Ireland

7 family-friendly cycling routes to try in Northern Ireland

50 things to see and do in Northern Ireland this summer

How to listen to Downtown Country:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for Country music, Downtown Country on online, on the Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Downtown Country’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the best Irish and American country music, from Victoria Quinn in the morning, to Big T’s legendary evening Country show.