Ireland is set for a spell of exceptionally warm weather this week, with temperatures expected to climb to 30°C in some parts of the country as Met Éireann warns that heatwave conditions are becoming increasingly likely.
The national forecaster has issued a weather advisory from Wednesday through to next Tuesday, forecasting daytime temperatures above 25°C across much of the country. From Friday onwards, values are expected to reach the high 20s, with some inland areas potentially recording 30°C. Warm, humid nights are also forecast, with the possibility of tropical nights and isolated thunderstorms later in the week.
High pressure will dominate throughout the period, bringing largely dry and settled conditions with prolonged sunshine. If temperatures remain above 25°C for five consecutive days in the same location, those areas will officially be considered to have experienced a heatwave.
Met Éireann forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said current forecasts suggest that some regions are likely to meet that definition over the coming days.
Conditions on Tuesday will remain mixed, with cloud, patchy drizzle and mist affecting parts of the north and west during the morning. Elsewhere, warm sunshine will develop, with temperatures generally ranging between 22°C and 28°C.
Wednesday is expected to begin with cloudy skies in many areas before brighter conditions spread across the country during the day. Temperatures are again forecast to reach between 27°C and 28°C.
A slight drop in temperatures is expected on Thursday, making it the coolest day of the week. Although cloud will be more widespread, conditions should stay mainly dry, with daytime highs of around 19°C to 20°C.
The hottest conditions are expected to arrive on Friday as warmer continental air moves across Ireland. Inland parts of the southwest, west, midlands and southern counties are expected to see the highest temperatures, with some locations potentially reaching 30°C.
According to Doran-Sherlock, recent weather has highlighted a contrast between the northwest and southeast of the country. Persistent cloud has kept temperatures in northwestern areas between 16°C and 18°C, while the southeast has enjoyed warmer conditions in the low to mid-20s. That pattern is expected to continue before clearer skies become more widespread later in the week.
The warm spell is being driven by a high-pressure system to the south of Ireland, drawing warm, humid tropical maritime air across the country. As the system shifts, even warmer continental air is expected to arrive, pushing temperatures higher from Friday onwards.
Although Ireland will avoid the extreme temperatures currently affecting parts of mainland Europe, the expected conditions remain significantly warmer than average for this time of year. Combined with high humidity, the warm nights may increase the risk of heat stress, particularly for older people and other vulnerable groups.
Met Éireann has not ruled out issuing yellow heat warnings later this week as confidence in the forecast improves.
Looking ahead, the settled weather pattern is expected to continue into the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday likely to bring long spells of sunshine, warm temperatures and little or no rainfall.
Meteorologist Mark Bowe said the warm overnight conditions may prove especially uncomfortable, as higher minimum temperatures can make sleeping difficult. He advised keeping windows closed during the hottest part of the day to help keep homes cooler before ventilating them later in the evening when temperatures begin to fall.
