Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Myth or fact? Is a "mini-heatwave" coming?

15:00
19 April 2023

Myth or fact?
Is a "mini-heatwave" coming?

blue sky

Now we've all heard rumours of this "mini-heatwave", but are the rumours true?

A long-range forecast from the Met Office seemed to fuel the frenzy with hopes that a "heatwave" was more imminent, especially given temperatures just reached 20°C for the first time this year.

The statement however, detailed the chance of warmth at the end of April in a long-range forecast, after the spell of below-average temperatures coming up.

What is a heatwave?

A heatwave is defined as a prolonged period of hot weather after a temperature threshold has been reached and/or surpassed for a certain number of days. The exact threshold varies depending on location, so is a fairly loose definition

A long-range forecast is purely built on trends and averages. For example, if the next few weeks look to be warmer than average on the weather models, or drier than average.

When there is good agreement across weather models, you can have greater certainty, though it is still very difficult to give any indication of detail such as exact temperatures so many days ahead.

For now, the rest of this week looks to be dominated by high pressure, with temperatures fluctuating around the average. From around the 23rd April however, cold, northerly winds look to plunge in delivering below average temperatures.

In some weather models, at present, there is an indication by the end of that week that milder air from the south will push its way back in, while some others are set on the cold clinging on for a little longer.

How are weather forecasts created?read more

We will be sure to keep you updated on any and all upcoming weather in the longer-term, but you can also check out the WeatherRadar to see the detail in the shorter-term.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Drought for North Wales and Upper Severn. 2% of average rainfall. . . Thursday 23 July 2026
Split image showing a July rainfall anomaly map of Europe on the left with below-average rainfall across the UK, Ireland, and much of western and central Europe, and an active moorland wildfire on the right producing flames and thick smoke near homes.
Thursday 23 July 2026

2% of average rainfall

Drought for North Wales and Upper Severn
Typhoon warning for China. Up to 500 mm of rain. . . Friday 24 July 2026
Weather map of the southern Chinese coast and Taiwan showing a powerful tropical cyclone. The eye of the storm is located near the coastal city of Shantou in the Chinese province of Guangdong. Around the centre, intense shades of red, pink and violet indicate gale-force winds, whilst a large orange wind field extends as far as the west coast of Taiwan. An overlaid windsack warning sign indicates dangerous storm winds. Cities such as Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Taipei and Taichung are shown, as are wind speeds and white flow lines illustrating the cyclonic air circulation.
Friday 24 July 2026

Up to 500 mm of rain

Typhoon warning for China
New heatwave in southern Europe. Up to 45 degrees in Spain. . . Tuesday 21 July 2026
Split temperature map showing extreme heat across Spain on the left and Greece on the right, with temperatures reaching 44°C near Murcia, around 40°C in parts of Greece, and a large thermometer icon highlighting dangerous heat.
Tuesday 21 July 2026

Up to 45 degrees in Spain

New heatwave in southern Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList