Autumn is set to arrive later this week with rain, bracing winds and temperatures dropping below 20 degrees, forecasters have said.

Monday will remain bright and clear, with the mercury reaching 25C in the south, while low winds overnight will keep the temperature up at around 17C, Weeronline reported.

On Tuesday clouds will start to roll in but temperatures will still be over 20C in most parts of the country. However, Wednesday will bring rain in the south and south-east and heavier cloud in the north, with temperatures struggling to get above 19C.

Thursday will see a mix of sunshine and showers, especially in the north and north-west, but on Friday stronger winds will blow in from the north-west, reaching up to 6 on the Beaufort Scale and bringing the temperature down to around 16C or 17C.

Similar temperatures will prevail over the weekend, punctuated by occasional bursts of sun and more frequent showers.