Thunderstorms are coming in across the country tonight as a Status Orange thunderstorm warning remains in effect nationwide until tomorrow morning.
The Met Éireann warning will remain in effect until 9am Monday, along with a Condition Orange Fire warning that will remain in effect until midnight Tuesday, as tinder-dry conditions pose a high fire risk, especially from dead grass, heather and gorse.
While the heat wave that started Tuesday officially ended today, with Oak Park in Co Carlow the national hot spot, with a maximum temperature of 29.4C during the day, Met Éireann said the entire country is at risk of sporadic thunderstorms starting tonight.
A Status Orange Thunderstorm warning will also remain in effect for all of Munster and the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow from 9am to 4pm tomorrow.
Meteorologist Emer Flood of Met Éireann said some very active thunderstorms are moving across the country early in the evening.
A particularly active one dumped 20mm of rain in just 15 minutes in Castlerea, Co Roscommon earlier this evening, she said.
Other active thunderstorms with lightning bolts were also reported in Kerry, Cork and Limerick counties.
“They are in most regions and there will be more popping up all over the country overnight, but they will be hit and miss,” she told Independent.ie
“They can be spread everywhere at night and in the early morning.”
A status yellow high temperature warning will also remain in effect until 6am tomorrow for all of Leinster and Munster, as well as for Cavan, Monaghan, Galway and Roscommon counties, where nighttime temperatures are not expected to drop below 15C after another warm day with temperatures in the high 1920s.
Once the thunderstorms clear up tomorrow morning, there will be a noticeable drop in temperature and humidity.
Daytime maximum temperatures will range from 14C to 16C in the north and northwest and between 17C and 23C elsewhere.
Yesterday there was scorching heat across the country, with the highest temperature of 30.7C again recorded at Oak Park in Co Carlow.
Recent high temperatures and lack of rain have strained water systems across the country. Irish Water has warned measures have been taken at 37 of its 750 water supplies across the country “to keep taps flowing” amid increased demand.
In most cases, there is still no impact on customers, but there are a small number of locations where overnight restrictions apply.
These include parts of West Cork, Kerry and Galway. Meanwhile, nighttime restrictions are also in place on the Carrigart and Lough Morne water plans in Co Donegal, affecting different urban areas.
In addition to areas of active intervention, there are over 60 stocks across the country that are being closely monitored by Irish Water to ensure normal supplies are maintained for the rest of the summer and fall.
Tom Cuddy, Irish Water’s head of asset operations, said: “We would like to thank the public for their support so far in saving water and remind everyone to continue taking some simple steps to reduce their consumption. By reducing our water consumption, for example by turning off the hose and avoiding power washing, we can all help avoid further restrictions and ensure there is enough water for homes and businesses, agriculture, fisheries and essential services while we get through the rest of the summer and into the fall.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture’s Orange Forest Fire Warning, issued in response to “weather patterns and expected level of risk,” will also remain in effect until noon Tuesday.
Met Éireann said the thunderstorms will be “intense slow-moving deluges”, causing localized flooding, intense lightning and a small chance of hail.
Scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms will continue throughout the night and sometimes progress to extended periods of rain, with local downpours and flooding possible. It remains warm and humid with temperatures dropping to between 11C and 13C in Ulster and northern Connacht, while staying above 14C to 17C elsewhere.
Met Éireann said scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to hit the southern half of the country tomorrow. In the course of the afternoon it will rain heavily with an increased risk of flooding.
Further north it will be fresher but drier with only a few showers and occasional sunny spells. The highest temperatures will return to the average and range from 14C to 16C in the north and northwest to between 17C and 23C elsewhere.
Monday night showers in the south will gradually ease to leave a mostly dry night with clear spells and lows of 10C to 15C. It stays warmest on the east coast.
The forecaster said Tuesday will be cooler and cloudier with scattered light showers and highest temperatures of 15C to 19C degrees, mildest in the south.
Showers will clear early Tuesday evening, making for a dry night with a mix of clouds, clear spells and lows of 8C to 13C.
Wednesday will be a dry day with a mix of cloud and sunny spells in the morning and a broad haze of sunshine in the afternoon. Met Éireann said the highest temperatures of 15C to 20C are expected, with the warmest conditions along the south coast.
Wednesday night there will be clear spells early in the night, but by morning clouds will increase from the west and rain will pour into the Atlantic coastal provinces. The lowest temperatures range from 8C to 14C, the mildest in the west.
On Thursday morning showers, which can become heavy at times, will move across the country, followed by scattered showers in the afternoon. The rain will dissipate during the evening and give way to more sunny periods in the west. The highest temperatures of 16C to 22C are expected, the warmest in Munster.
“While confidence is still quite low by next weekend, current indications suggest it will become milder and more stable for a while,” Met Éireann said.