Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses at the ready!
The country will have hotter weather than Lanzarote on Friday, with temperatures predicted to set to soar to 29C.
Met Éireann is forecasting a ‘very warm or hot’ day which will be largely dry with spells of summer sunshine along with humidity, while temperatures will range between 21C and 29C.
Highest temperatures are being predicted for the midlands and northern areas of the country, all in mostly moderate southeast breezes.
However, the national forecaster is warning that showers may break out locally, which could be heavy. People living with hay fever need to be aware of a high pollen count.
As for Saturday, temperatures will be a little lower, with highs of 25C forecast. It will be warmest across the eastern half of the country, all in a light to moderate southwest wind.
A scattering of showers will occur too, some heavy and possibly thundery. While no one is saying not to enjoy the warm and hot weather, the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Healthy Ireland are reminding everyone that ‘sun safety’ is not just for when you’re going abroad.
A HSE spokeswoman explained that the sun can be ‘strong enough to cause sun damage from the start of April to the end of September’ in Ireland.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland with more than 11,000 cases annually, while 1,200 melanoma cases, the most serious form of skin cancer, are diagnosed each year.
Dr Breeda Neville, specialist in Public Health Medicine at the NCCP said: ‘The more time you spend unprotected in the sun, the more UV damage your skin is exposed to which increases your risk of skin cancer, including the deadliest form – melanoma.’
Sunday’s weather is to turn more unsettled. It will be fresher and breezier than it has been in recent days with highs of 15C to 20C.
