THE COUNTRY will continue to bask in warm sunshine this weekend but temperatures will not quite reach yesterday’s record-breaking highs.
Yesterday’s highest temperature was 28.3 degrees at Ardfert, Co Kerry.
Records for May were broken at several weather stations in the west. At Shannon airport weather station, temperatures reached 27.8 degrees, which broke the 1997 May record for the station.
Markree Castle in Sligo, Mace Head in Galway and Newport in Mayo all had record May temperatures above 26 degrees.
Highs in Dublin and along the east coast were much lower. The highest temperature reached at the Dublin’s Phoenix Park weather station was 21.6 degrees.
Met Eireann has forecast strong sunshine today with temperatures reaching the mid-20s in the west.
Today’s temperatures would have broken records had it not been for the highs of yesterday, Met Éireann forecaster David Rogers said.
There will be a lot of sunshine on the east coast today and in Dublin but winds will be stronger.
As a result of the wind in the east “anyone on the beaches will feel a cooling effect”, Mr Rogers said. Those tempted to go for a dip in the sea should also note the surface temperature is about 10 degrees. This makes places closer to the sea much cooler.
There will be an increase in cloud in the south during today with some light rain tonight which will weaken as it moves northwards, Mr Rogers said.
The good weather is set to continue tomorrow with most places dry and a lot of warm sunshine. Daytime temperatures will reach 20-22 degrees. It is expected to be slightly cooler along the south coast with highs of 15-17 degrees forecast.
However, there will be more cloud on Sunday night bringing some rain, Mr Rogers said.
This will set the scene for early next week when weather will be “fairly broken” but with temperatures still above normal.
The cause of the high temperatures is Ireland’s position between an anti-cyclone in Scotland and low pressure in northern Spain, combined with a northeasterly air stream and prolonged sunshine.
The high humidity of the air tracking across the land from the east has helped to bring temperatures well above normal in the west, he said.
Met Éireann has forecast rain in parts of the south on Monday. For the rest of the country the fine weather will continue, but temperatures will start to fall back to between 15-18 degrees in Munster and south Leinster, and 19-22 degrees elsewhere.
It will likely be similar on Tuesday with rain in the south and west and highs of 14-19 degrees. Temperatures will be average for May by midweek.
