It will be a warm, humid weekend with some showers but high pressure currently bathing the south of England and western Europe in temperatures of 30 degrees is not expected to make a significant impact on our weather, according to Met Éireann.

Highest temperatures for the coming days ahead are expected to be in the region of 18 to 22 degrees with a slight rise at the weekend to between 19 and 24 degrees in the southeast, where the best of the sunshine is expected on Sunday.

However, a Met Éireann forecaster said high pressure to the south of Ireland that was “building and trying to break through” is likely to be rebuffed by several, low pressure areas to the north and west of the island.

While the best prospect of clear skies is probably in the southeast on Sunday, the west will be warm, cloudy and subject to intermittent drizzle, Met Éireann said.

Initial cloudy and damp conditions on Thursday will gradually give way to drier conditions throughout the day.

It will become warm and humid with fresh southwesterly winds, but remaining cloudy. Thursday night is set to be dry and humid, with lows of 13 or 14 degrees in moderate southwest breezes.

Friday will be a warm day with spells of sunshine in many parts. Temperatures will be around 21 degrees in light southwest breezes. However misty conditions may develop near the south coast with patches of sea-fog drifting inland.

Saturday is set to be another warm day with sunny spells and temperatures reaching 23 degrees in the east.

However, western coastal counties will be cloudier with outbreaks of rain and drizzle there throughout the day and temperatures are likely to be a little lower.

Sunday offers the best chance of a warm and sunny day with temperatures possibly hitting 24 degrees in the southeast as the edge of the European heatwave pushes in. Light breezes are expected.

Rain will return to the west Monday but the rest of the country will remain dry with temperatures of up to 22 degrees.

The outlook for the middle of next week is for cooler and cloudier conditions with rain at times.