Eireann expects ‘exceptionally warm weather’ to flood the country over the next 48 hours as a status yellow warning was issued from this morning to Tuesday.
number of counties in Ireland are expected to reach record temperatures in the coming days.
We can expect temperatures between 23 and 29 degrees today.
The forecaster said a high of 29.3C was recorded in the Phoenix Park – the highest temperature in the entire country so far today.
“It’s almost breaking the highest temperature for July in Phoenix Park, which was 29.5 °C and the all-time highest there of 30.6,” it said.
Today it will be dry and very warm with sunny periods, warmest in the interior, with a light to moderate southerly wind.
Heading north there will be some light rain and drizzle, but that will be due to clear as we reach the afternoon.
While Met Éireann issued a yellow warning for “exceptionally warm weather,” meteorologist Deirdre Lowe said temperatures from 6 a.m. this morning will bring “warming” and “tropical” nights.
Irish Water is urging the public to conserve water while also urging people to exercise caution when swimming in the sea and lakes en masse.
Speaking to Independent.ie, Ms Lowe said people in the Midlands, North Leinster and South Ulster can expect the highest readings.
“Monday will bring peak temperatures in the mid-20s around the coast, and then inland it will be between 27 and 32 degrees,” she said.
Highest temperatures will be experienced in north Leinster, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath, south Cavan and western parts of Dublin – all of which can be expected as high as 32 degrees tomorrow, possibly even breaking 21st century records .
“It is unusual to reach these very high temperatures. The all-time record was 33.3 degrees at Kilkenny Castle in 1887. It may not break that record, but it will probably break local records,’ said Mrs Lowe.
In the 21st century, the highest recorded temperature was 32.3 degrees in Elphin in Co Roscommon.
“That was in 2006. So this intense spell may break that record, maybe not. Some parts of the country are getting the highest temperature ever recorded. It gets really, really hot compared to what we’re used to, so just enjoy it,” said Ms Lowe.
When asked if we can enjoy another hot spell at the end of the month, she said: “It’s too early to say, but it’s not impossible. It hasn’t been a brilliant summer so far, so when we get that heat it’s more appreciated.”
She described why Ireland is going through such an intense period and said the country is enjoying “the warm air being sucked in from the end of the heat wave on the continent”.
“A heat wave is actually defined as five days that are over 25 degrees, so this is more of a short burst of very intense heat and the next few nights can be described as tropical, at 20 degrees.
“It will be very hot on Monday. On Tuesday it looks like stronger thunderstorms will move across the country, so it will still be very warm in the east. Then the cooler air will become widespread on Tuesday evening and it will be much fresher on Wednesday. Then temperatures will return to normal on Wednesday.”
Around the coast tomorrow, Ms Lowe said people will experience a “sea breeze” in the afternoon where it will be a “pleasant” 23 or 24 degrees – but inland it will be “very hot”. Especially tomorrow night it will be very stuffy and humid. Normal sunny temperatures during the Irish summer reach 21, so this is “well above normal”.
Tonight it will be very mildly dry with temperatures between 14 and 18 degrees. We will see some patches of fog or fog may form.
Monday we can expect exceptionally warm weather with temperatures of 27 to 31 or 32 degrees, warmest in the midlands and northern Leinster.
It will remain mostly dry with light or sunny periods and a light or moderate southerly or variable wind.
Monday night it will be warm with temperatures around 15 to 18 degrees. It will remain mostly dry, but showers will develop in the west by morning.
As we go into Tuesday, very warm weather will continue in the east of the country as Met Éireann has issued a yellow status warning for Leinster.
High temperatures will be between 25 and 28 degrees, with Met Éireann warning people to be aware of heat stress, a high UV index from the sun and to be safe near water.
Elsewhere it will become cooler with showers expanding eastwards later in the evening.
Temperatures will return to normal from Wednesday with fairly dry weather and a few showers.
At the moment, Met Éireann expects the coming weekend to become more restless with rain on Saturday from the southwest and Sunday with even more rain or showers.
For those attending the All-Ireland Finals today, Met Éireann is warning them to be ‘sunny’ as spectators at Croke Park today will have a lot of sun exposure.
“The UV index will be very high so it’s important to be smart in the sun so make sure you put on sunscreen before people go out and for those going to the game, bring some so you can get your can log in again during the game,” meteorologist Aoife told Kealy.
“Also make sure you’re covered; most people will bring a cap, but it is extremely important to protect yourself from the sun as much as possible.
“There’s no getting around it when you go outside, so it’s important to stay hydrated, bring plenty of water, and especially for young children.”
The HSE National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) has advised people to follow the ‘Five S’ plan: ‘Slip on clothes’ that covers your skin, such as long sleeves and collared t-shirts; ‘Slop on sunscreen’ with SPF at least 30+ for adults and 50+ for children; ‘Slap on a wide-brimmed hat’; ‘Find shade’ to avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and ‘Slide on sunglasses’.
Ireland has one of the world’s highest rates of skin cancer, with 13,000 new diagnoses per year.