NI weather forecast: Mini-heatwave and temperatures set to hit 20°C in NI next week as people begin preparing for seventh week of Coronavirus lockdown

There will be bouts of rain across Northern Ireland on Friday but it will start to feel warmer on Saturday when long uninterrupted periods of sunshine move in.

It will be somewhat overcast on Sunday but it will remain relatively warm.

The week gets off to a brilliant start on Monday with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching as high as 16°C.

The warm and sunny conditions continue on into Tuesday and Wednesday during which some parts of Northern Ireland, particularly in the northwest could see temperatures in the low twenties.

"Is there good news on the horizon? Well the EC [Europe] certainly thinks so," Tweeted WXCharts on Wednesday.

"Signs of high pressure building in through next week could bring a transient return of fine and settled conditions to much of northern and western Europe," they added.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has confirmed that April 2020 is the warmest since records began back in 1929.

Between April 1 and 27, 215.8 hours of sunshine have been recorded, 46 per cent above the average for April, and beating the previous record set in 2015 of 211.9 hours of sunshine.

This has been the result of persistent high-pressure systems over or close to the UK resulting in an extended spell of fine, dry and sunny weather since late March.

It's also important to remember, whatever the weather, it is vitally important that we all adhere to social distancing measures put in place by the government to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus.

This means stay at home and do not go out to meet others, even friends or family, as it is possible to spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home), always stay two metres (6ft) away from other people and wash your hands as soon as you return home.

Stay up-to-date with the weather forecast in your area by visiting: www.metoffice.gov.uk