200mm of rain could fall in parts of Spain this week in blow for Irish holidaymakers

Irish holiday-goers heading to Spain or Portugal for the Easter break may not get the sunny escape they hoped for.

The rain is set to follow them over, with up to 200mm of rain has been forecast for parts of the Iberian peninsula over the coming seven days.

While this might put a dampener on the school holidays for Irish families, it is likely to be welcome news for the locals, according to weather expert Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather.

"Bad news for Irish holidaymakers heading there but it is badly needed after serious long term drought," he said in a social media post sharing two grim weather models for both countries.