'Sweltering heat' as high temperature warning issued
Weather Update from Met Éireann
A senior weather forecaster has warned of "sweltering heat" this weekend as Met Éireann has issued a high temperature warning from today (Friday), July 15 to Tuesday, July 19.
Temperatures of up to 24 degrees Celsius are forecast for today, rising to 26 on Saturday, 28 on Sunday, creeping up to 32 degrees on Monday with even hotter temperatures possible on Tuesday.
Meteorologist Paul Downes has said: "While Europe has been basking in what seems like an eternal heat wave all summer long, Ireland has seen mostly a very average summer. Over the next few days however a combination of factors will help to steer those higher temperatures our way, if only for a relatively brief spell of very warm temperatures."
Looking ahead, he said: "While the high builds in on Friday and Saturday the high temperatures will range generally in the low to mid 20s. There will also be some upper cloud at times making sunshine a little hazy and there is a chance of a few showers too.
"As the high begins to drift a little to the east on Sunday, temperatures will rise to mid to upper 20s with temperatures possibly surpassing 30 locally on Monday. There is a little more uncertainty regarding Tuesday but it does look like it will be another hot day and perhaps as hot if not hotter than Monday. While this warmer air moves in our direction there will be the chance of a few thundery bursts especially on Tuesday."
It will also be very warm by night, particularly on Monday night.
Looking at the latest bulletin on the Met Éireann website, it's giving for a rather cloudy morning to start today with a few patches of light rain or drizzle. It will brighten up for the afternoon and evening, with widespread sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures generally of 18 to 24 degrees, warmest in the south and southeast. It will be cooler however across western and northern coasts due to a light to moderate northwest breeze.
Tonight will be dry with long clear spells along with some high cloud. Patches of mist or fog will form in near calm conditions. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees.
Tomorrow (Saturday) any fog will clear for bright morning tomorrow with hazy sunshine. It will turn cloudier in some areas during the day. A mainly dry day with just isolated showers possible. Warm with highest temperatures of 21 to 26 degrees, warmest in central parts, with a light to moderate southerly breeze.
Saturday night will be dry for most with just isolated showers. Long clear spells with light south to southeast winds. Very mild with lowest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees.
Sunday is promised very warm and dry with widespread hazy sunshine. Highest temperatures of 22 to 28 degrees, warmest in central parts and the east. South to southeast breezes will be light to moderate.
A rather warm night is forecast Sunday with temperatures remaining above 14 to 17 degrees. Dry and clear with just light southerly winds.
Monday will bring hot conditions across most areas with temperatures widely of 26 to 29 degrees, possibly reaching 30 to 32 degrees in some parts. Dry and mostly sunny with light southerly breezes, turning a little cloudier in some parts later in the day.
Monday night will feel very warm overnight with temperatures staying above 16 to 19 degrees, not falling below 20 degrees in some parts. Some showers may affect western fringes but otherwise it will be dry and clear with light variable winds.
Tuesday is looking very warm or hot again with temperatures reaching the high twenties again, possibly low thirties locally. Dry to start for many however showers may move into western areas, preventing temperatures from getting as high there. Heavy or thundery showers will spread northwards over the country later in the day and overnight. Light to moderate variable winds.
Heavy or thundery showers continuing into Wednesday with the hot spell coming to an end as temperatures fall back to normal.