The new Irish temperature record for May has been broken twice in the same day.
Shannon Airport became the first place in Ireland to record a temperature of more than 30 degrees in May. The 30.5 degrees value there on Tuesday afternoon was higher than the 29.7 degrees recorded at Oak Park, Co Carlow, earlier in the day, itself a record.
It was also higher than the 28.6 degrees recorded at Shannon Airport on Monday, which had broken a record for May stretching back to 1997 when 28.4 degrees was recorded at Ardfert, Co Kerry.
The temperature may get even higher on Wednesday, according to Met Éireann forecaster Siobhán Ryan with a possibility that the temperature will reach surpass 30 degrees again and possibly reach 31 degrees.
RM Block
“The temperature should technically continue to rise tomorrow. It will be most sunny again and warm, even hot.
“And you’re starting from a higher base and it is a milder night again than last night so the potential is there for further heating, a heat dome, tomorrow.
“The air in the last 1,000m before the ground will be warmer tomorrow than today.”
There may be more cloud tomorrow, which will see an end to the very hot spell of weather, but it will remain warm for the rest of the week, she said.
It will be cloudier and therefore cooler on Thursday, but temperatures will be up into the mid-20s which is “exceptional” for May.
The Bloom festival over the Bank Holiday weekend will see temperatures well over 20 degrees for the summer with a possibility of 25 degrees in Dublin on Friday.
“You could still see record temperatures in the east on Thursday or Friday,” she said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Met Éireann issued a yellow weather warning for heat valid until 6pm on Wednesday for eight counties.
The forecaster issued the warning for Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.
It said there would be maximum temperatures of more than 27 degrees, with night-time temperatures of 15.
Met Éireann warned of water safety problems due to the increased use of lakes and beaches and said forest fires were a possibility. It also cautioned of uncomfortable sleeping conditions and possible heat stress issues.
Wednesday will see a continuation of the hot spell of weather and it will be a mainly dry and sunny day.
Later in the day there is the chance of a few well-scattered showers breaking out, Met Éireann said.
The highest temperatures for Wednesday are forecast to be 22 to 29 or 30 degrees, hottest in the midwest and west, though a little lower in coastal parts of the east and northeast.
After a warm and dry first half of the week, temperatures will reduce again, with some rain and showers to come.
Thursday is forecast to be cloudier than recent days with some patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle farther west.
It will be a bit cooler too, with highest temperatures of 18 to 24 degrees, though any rain will clear northwards early on Friday, leaving a dry day with some good sunshine and cloud in the afternoon and evening.
Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees are forecast on Friday.
Looking ahead to the long weekend, the current indications are for a return to more unsettled conditions, with some rain and showers forecast and highest daytime temperatures falling back to the mid to high teens.
