Perhaps it is just coincidence, but the run of sunny weather seems to have started when Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sat side by side to announce their historic political deal at the end of March.

But will the province's weather remain as sunny as the political outlook?

This week Northern Ireland will continue to bask in sunshine, with temperatures predicted to hit 21C in some parts by Friday.

And the outlook for the province is much sunnier than many of the traditional European hotspots such as Rome and Barcelona where heavy downpours are forecast.

According to the Met Office, mean temperatures in the province have been above normal and this pattern is likely to continue until the end of May.

Stephen Davenport, senior meteorologist at MeteoGroup, said it was likely to be the hottest April on record.

Last week's warm temperatures mean the record of 1865 is expected to fall.

Today is expected to be another dry day with any early mist patches soon clearing to leave plenty of sunshine.

It will be warm generally, but cooler along the east coast with a maximum temperature of around 19C.

The high pressure will remain for the rest of the week, bringing dry, settled weather with long sunny spells.

There may be some mist and fog patches at first, but they will soon disperse.

And over the bank holiday weekend the Met Office predicts dry, sunny starts with cloud at times.

Afterwards the weather should start mostly dry with variable cloud and sunny spells, although more cloudy conditions are expected to spread into the north and north west giving periods of rain at times.

This unsettled weather will gradually extend further southwards during the week and it will be windy at times, especially in the north, becoming less warm with temperatures near or a little above normal.

Hayfever sufferers can expect moderately high birch pollen counts and a risk of moderate oak pollen counts.