The Met Office forecasts maximum temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius across Northern Ireland on Thursday. Meteorologist Kathryn Chalk indicated this could match or exceed recent regional highs.

High pressure builds Tuesday with temperatures at 14C. Northern Ireland will see the clearest skies that day alongside parts of north England and Scotland.

Wednesday brings 16C maximums with cloud cover and rain over Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland. Clearer conditions prevail elsewhere in the UK.

Thursday concentrates dry weather in the south-east of England, while western areas face possible rain. Friday stays mostly dry at 14C.

The preceding winter featured low-pressure systems from the Atlantic. Three named storms in January - Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra - delivered heavy rain, flooding and travel problems to multiple regions. February continued rainy before turning drier late in the month.