LAST UPDATE | 8 Jul 2022

THIS WEEKEND’S WEATHER is set to be warm and sunny with temperatures settling in the low-to-mid 20s.

The mercury is then set to dial up a notch on Monday with Met Éireann forecasting highs of 27 degrees celsius, which would make it the hottest day of the year so far.

The weekend forecast is looking very nice right now with temperatures potentially hitting 23 degrees today and tomorrow. 

Met Éireann forecasters have predicted that today will be mainly dry with more sunshine in the afternoon and evening.

The meteorological service said it is expected to be mostly cloudy in the north with some patchy drizzle possible near north and northwest coasts.

The highest temperatures we can expect are between 16 to 23 degrees, and it’ll be warmest in the southeast with light west to northwest breezes.

It’s also expected to be very mild and humid tonight with temperatures only dipping down to around 14 degrees. 

There’s a very similar day forecast for tomorrow. 

The current hottest day of the year so far actually came yesterday when 25.1 degrees celsius was recorded at Met Éireann’s Mount Dillon weather station in Roscommon.

Despite the clutch of good days in close succession meteorologist Brandon Creagh is cautioning that it’s likely to fall short of Met Éireann’s definition of a heatwave, which is five days above 25 degrees celsius widespread around the country.

“On Tuesday that high pressure system breaks down a small bit, as there is a bit of rain on the way. So, I don’t think we’ll get a good five days of a specific heat wave. But further on from that high pressure is looking to build in again, so it could be another warm week in store,” Creagh said.

Creagh added that we have a high-pressure centre that has built up over the Azores region of the Atlantic Ocean to thank for the current “settled and warm” weather.

Warnings

As a result of the expected good weather, Dogs Trust Ireland is reminding dog owners to keep their pets safe.

Niamh Curran Kelly, Veterinary and Welfare Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, urged anyone who thinks their dog may be suffering from heatstroke to contact a local vet.

“It is vital you do this as quickly as you can to give your dog the best chance of making a recovery. Move your dog to a cool, shaded area and dial the vet on speakerphone. Describe the symptoms your dog is experiencing and tell them that you think they may be suffering from heatstroke. While driving to the vet, drive with the windows down or air-conditioning on – this should help to reduce your dog’s core temperature.

“If you have to wait for transport to the vet, try to encourage your dog to drink small amounts of room-temperature water if they are alert, and gently pour small amounts of cool water on their body. The main goal of treating heatstroke is to lower your dog’s body temperature to normal as early as possible, but not so quickly that you cause them to go into shock.”

The ESB has also issued a warning about the dangers and potentially serious consequences of swimming in ESB reservoirs.

“These areas are not appropriate for swimming because of the risk of deep and fast-flowing waters, changing water levels and uneven ground,” the electricity company said.

Additional reporting from Céimin Burke