Ireland has been enjoying a long-awaited nice spell of weather over the past couple of weeks, though all good things must come to an end.

Unfortunately, the sunny spells and warm days are set to cease just in time for the May Bank Holiday weekend.

While the east of the country has enjoyed the last of the sunshine on Thursday morning, rain has already started to move in from the southwest.

Cork and Waterford have yellow rain warnings in place until 6pm, with Met Éireann expecting other counties to be hit with similar conditions over the next few days.

Rain showers will be scattered throughout Thursday, with some turning heavy, though parts of the north and east will remain dry and sunny for most of the day.

Overnight, rain and drizzle will remain but it is set to become patchier as the morning creeps in.

Met Éireann stated: ‘(Friday) will see a mix of cloud, scattered showers and some sunny spells. The showers will turn heavy at times and be most frequent in parts of the west through the afternoon.’

However, temperatures could reach as high as 19C in some places on Friday, before the weekend takes a cooler trend.

The national forecaster said: ‘Mostly cloudy with widespread showers though some bright spells will develop through (Saturday). The showers will be heavy at times with a chance of thunder.

‘Feeling cooler with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in light southeasterly breezes.

‘Widespread showers continuing (Saturday night). Turning drier over the northern half of the country overnight with some clear spells developing.’

While the forecast remains changeable, Sunday is likely to be another cloudy day with widespread showers. These are expected to turn heavy at times and there is a further chance of thunder.

For the Bank Holiday, Met Éireann added: ‘Current indications show a largely cloudy day with some patchy light rain and drizzle. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees in light to moderate northerly breezes.

‘There is uncertainty in the details with a cloudy but mainly dry day currently indicated for Tuesday.’