NI registers warmest day of the year so far

Sunny weather in Shaws Bridge

It's been steadily warming up this week, and on Wednesday, temperatures broke the 20-degree barrier mark for the first time this year.

The temperature peaked at 21.2C at Castlederg in County Tyrone and 20.7C at Thomastown in County Fermanagh.

This makes Wednesday the warmest day of the year so far and the earliest in the calendar year temperatures have reached 20C or more in Northern Ireland in 13 years.

The last time this happened was late March 2012.

Derrylin recorded a max of 20.2C today and looks to be the 3rd warmest spot today

Although temperatures of 20C are more typical of summer, the chilly nights and early mornings are a reminder that this is spring.

Temperatures early on Wednesday morning were sub-zero in places, and in the case of Castlederg, the dawn temperature was -1.1C.

That means the daily range for the town from low to high was 22.3C.

Thursday is likely to be the peak of this current warm, sunny spell of weather and temperatures inland will generally rise to between 18C and 20C, but could reach 22C.

It will also feel noticeably warmer in eastern areas, including Belfast, on Thursday, as there'll be a gentle westerly breeze rather than the easterly wind of recent days.

It's worth noting that pollen levels will be very high on Thursday, and the sun is as strong at this time of year as it is at the end of August.

Enjoy the fake summer, but don't forget the SPF.

Temperatures will drop over the weekend and by Sunday could be 10 degrees cooler than Thursday.

Some welcome rain is also forecast Saturday night and Sunday.