Weather forecasters are saying today looks set to be the hottest day of the year, with temperatures expected to reach more than 27 degrees.
Oak Park in Co Carlow was the hottest location yesterday, according to Met Éireann, where a temperature of 26.9 degrees Celsius was noted, just shy of the hottest day of the year so far – 27.1 degrees in Co Mayo on June 17th.
Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly said yesterday's temperatures were kept slightly lower by cloud in the morning but today should have clear skies in many areas.
She said today could be the hottest day of the year.
Ms Donnelly said the east would be sunnier than the west and the northeast hotter than the southeast, similar to yesterday.
“The temperatures are slightly above average at this time of the year due to the position of the high pressure system,”she said.
Ireland kept pace with some of Europe’s hottest cities, with Rome at 27 degrees, Paris at 29, London 28 degrees and Madrid at 35 degrees at about 3pm yesterday.
Tonight, heavy and thundery showers will develop in the west during the evening and outbreaks of rain will spread eastwards overnight. It will stay hot and humid.
Ms Donnelly said conditions were expected to be cooler and fresher tomorrow with an Atlantic front sweeping in throughout the day. Tomorrow should have a top temperature of 23 degrees. Tomorrow night will be cooler than recent nights with temperatures between 11 -13 degrees.
There will be isolated showers on Sunday with sunny spells and the mercury will return to “normal values” for this time of the year, between 17- 20 degrees.
Monday will be have sunny spells and showers but again becoming more humid, with the top temperatures in the low 20s.
Met Éireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy said for weather to be classified as a “heat wave” there must be five consecutive days of temperatures above 25 degrees.
