Temperatures in Ireland top 30 degrees as hottest day of the year recorded

Humid overnight conditions forecast with weather warnings in place until end of week

(From left to right) Twins Bella and Layla Hughes (4) with Annie Shepherd (2) and her brother Jude Shepherd (5) eating screwball ice creams at Helen’s Bay beach in Co Down on Tuesday. Hot weather warnings are in place across Ireland on Wednesday. Photograph: PA
(From left to right) Twins Bella and Layla Hughes (4) with Annie Shepherd (2) and her brother Jude Shepherd (5) eating screwball ice creams at Helen’s Bay beach in Co Down on Tuesday. Hot weather warnings are in place across Ireland on Wednesday. Photograph: PA

Temperatures reached just over 30 degrees in Ireland on Wednesday, making it the hottest day of the year so far.

Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon recorded a high of 30.8 degrees, according to a Met Éireann tweet late on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, Met Éireann reported a temperature of 30.1 degrees.

A status orange high temperature warning is in place for Cavan, Monaghan, south Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath until 9am on Friday.

A yellow weather warning is in force for the rest of the country, with high temperatures continuing this week, with hot conditions by day and staying very warm and humid at night.

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The highest temperature of the year had previously been recorded on Saturday with 29.6 degrees at Durrow, Co Laois.

Check the temperatures where you are.

People walk along a pathway exposed by the falling water level at Spelga Reservoir in the Mourne Mountains of Co Down. Northern Ireland Water has asked the public to reduce water use as the system is under extreme pressure due to an increase in demand. Photograph: PA
People walk along a pathway exposed by the falling water level at Spelga Reservoir in the Mourne Mountains of Co Down. Northern Ireland Water has asked the public to reduce water use as the system is under extreme pressure due to an increase in demand. Photograph: PA

The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 degrees at Kilkenny Castle, on June 26th, 1887.

In Northern Ireland the Met Office has issued an amber weather warning over extreme heat from 8am on Wednesday until 11.59pm on Friday night.

Northern Ireland recorded a provisional record high temperature on Saturday, when the mercury hit 31.2 degrees in Ballywatticock close to Newtownards in Co Down at 3.40pm.

Met Éireann said when early mist and fog clear Wednesday will be a dry, hot and mostly sunny day, though some patches of sea fog will linger throughout the day.

Some high cloud will drift into the southwest, turning the sunshine hazier at times.

High temperatures may spark off a few thundery showers across north Connacht and Ulster later in the afternoon.

Highest temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees are forecast, a little less warm along the south and east coast in a light southeast breeze.

Irish Water is continuing to urge the public to conserve water to ensure “a consistent supply for all during this busy time”.

Demand for drinking water has increased very significantly in many supplies across Waterford city and county, it said.

Temperatures will remain above 17 to 20 degrees for much of tonight.

Light southeasterly or variable breezes will allow some mist and fog patches to develop.

Thursday will be a hot and mostly dry day with highest temperatures again between 27 to 30 degrees.

The best of the sunshine will be in the northeast with hazier sunshine elsewhere. Later in the afternoon, there is a chance of an isolated thundery showers breaking out over Ulster.

Friday will be another very warm day with highest temperatures of 25 to 29 degrees generally, again slightly lower along southern and eastern coasts, in light to moderate easterly breezes.

Scattered showers will develop over the southern half of the country, possibly thundery at times, with more isolated showers further north in the best of the sunshine.

Friday night will be largely dry and warm in mainly light northeasterly breezes. Towards the morning, some patchy drizzle will move into southern coasts.

Friends Daithi Dignam and Ben Noone (centre)  taking the cooling plunge in the Shankill River, Manor Kilbride, Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times
Friends Daithi Dignam and Ben Noone (centre) taking the cooling plunge in the Shankill River, Manor Kilbride, Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times

Met Éireann said there is some uncertainty over the weekend but current indications suggest that Saturday will be less warm than previous days with highest temperatures ranging from 19 or 20 degrees in the east to 24 or 25 degrees in the west.

There will be good sunny spells but scattered showers will develop during the afternoon, mainly in the east and southeast where it will be cloudier. Winds will be mostly light to moderate northeasterly.

Sunday will be a warm day with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Scattered showers will develop too.

Highest temperatures of 22 to 25 degrees generally, a degree or two lower along northern and northwestern coasts, in moderate north to northwest breezes.

Sarah Burns

Sarah Burns

Sarah Burns is a reporter for The Irish Times