Saturday brings scorching sunshine with temperatures soaring to potentially 31-32°C across Ireland, marking what could be the hottest day of the year so far. However, Met Éireann warns that this weekend’s glorious weather will be short-lived, with unsettled conditions and heavy rain set to sweep in from Sunday afternoon.
Today’s forecast promises wall-to-wall sunshine across Cork and the rest of the country, with temperatures climbing between 24-30°C locally and reaching the low 30s elsewhere. Any early morning fog will clear quickly, leaving clear skies and light southerly breezes. The sunshine will turn hazy this evening as high cloud begins to develop.
Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel said:
“There’s nothing more to add this morning other than enjoy! Days like these are but a few a year in our turbulent mid-latitude region on the edge of the Atlantic, so make the most of it while it’s around.”
He advised people to “throw on the suncream today, drink plenty of water (or other beverages), enjoy your BBQ’s, and make the most of Ireland when it’s borderline tropical”, noting that temperatures had already reached 22°C by 8am in some locations.
Tonight will remain mild and humid with temperatures staying between 15-18°C and very light breezes, perfect for outdoor dining or evening walks along the Lee.
Sunday will start fine with good sunny spells, but the weather story changes dramatically during the afternoon. Cloud will build from the west as showery outbreaks of rain push in from the Atlantic. Met Éireann warns that some of these showers could be heavy and possibly thundery, with temperatures still reaching a very warm 22-29°C before turning fresher in the evening.
The outlook for next week makes for grim reading. Monday brings a band of rain clearing northern areas during the morning, followed by scattered heavy showers and breezy conditions. Temperatures will drop noticeably to just 16-22°C. Tuesday continues the unsettled theme with scattered showers, longer spells of rain, and blustery winds, with highs of only 16-20°C.
Changeable conditions are expected to continue for the rest of the week, with temperatures recovering slightly into the high teens or low 20s, but remaining well below this weekend’s tropical heights.
With both pollen counts and the UV index reaching high levels today and tomorrow, health officials recommend taking appropriate precautions for those with allergies or sensitive skin.