THE MERCURY HIT 33 degrees Celsius in Callan in Kilkenny earlier this afternoon ahead of several days of hot weather across Ireland.
A status yellow temperature warning has been in place since midday for the entire country.
Met Éireann has said it will continue to be very warm or hot tomorrow and Saturday with maximum temperatures of 27 to 29 degrees Celsius.
The forecaster said it will be “uncomfortably warm” at night with temperatures generally staying above 15 degrees. The forecaster warned of heat stress, particularly for vulnerable people, and a high solar UV index alongside risk of water-related incidents.
Remaining warm, dry & clear this evening with plenty of late sunshine☀️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 11, 2022
Mild with light breezes🍃 overnight, allowing isolated mist/fog🌫️ to form. Otherwise, it will be a dry & clear night.
Lows🌡️ of 10 to 15°C generally, but possibly up to 17°C in parts of Leinster & Munster. pic.twitter.com/a2lMpfii2d
Minister of State for Older People Mary Butler said in a statement: “Heat stress, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are potentially serious health risks for people during a heatwave. I urge older people, and anyone caring for someone, to take steps to stay cool and hydrated and monitor for signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion.
“It is important to remember that your GP or pharmacist will be able to advise you if any of your medicines might make you more likely to become ill from the heat.”
Met Éireann recorded the highest August temperature in almost 20 years today.
The Oak Park station in Co Carlow hit 30.5 degrees, after the temperature reached 29.2 degrees at the same station yesterday.
The highest temperature at our synoptic stations today was at Oak Park, Co Carlow with 30.5°C 🌡️📈
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 11, 2022
An air temperature of 30.0°C or above, has not been observed in Ireland during August since 2003. pic.twitter.com/zAmAp2Mg3f
The highest ever August temperature – 31.5 degrees – was recorded 27 years ago at the same station in Co Carlow.
Safety
Groups such as the Road Safety Authority and ESB have issued warnings in recent days for the public to take care in the heat during activities such as driving or swimming.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has appealed to the public to be conscious of the dangers posed by fire.
It is an offence to light a fire which causes or is likely to cause the burning of any vegetation within one mile of a woodland or Nature Reserve, and those doing so may face prosecution.
Drinkaware has warned that “alcohol and swimming do not mix.”
The organisation also urged people to ensure they stay hydrated if consuming alcohol.
Met Éireann meteorologist Paul Downes wrote that this is the “first time this summer” the forecaster can say with “a high degree of confidence” that heatwave criteria will be met in some parts of the country.
A heatwave is when temperatures reach at least 25 degrees on five or more consecutive days at the same location.
Downes said this metric looks likely in much of Munster and Leinster. Many areas of these provinces are likely to reach the upper 20s on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday.
But sea breezes especially on east and south-east coasts will limit the maximum temperatures to the lower 20s in coastal parts.
Ulster and Connacht are unlikely to see heatwave conditions with maximum temperatures in the low to mid 20s today and rising to the mid 20s or higher from tomorrow.
Downes said temperatures may rise above 25 degrees in some parts in this part of the country, but it’s unlikely one station with hit the temperature on five days in a row.
He added that there is a slight chance of thunderstorms on Sunday and into Monday, “likely heralding a return to cooler near average temperatures”.
He said some counties like Galway and Roscommon may be added to the Status Yellow weather warning later in the week.
Downes advised people to follow water safety guidelines for those in water during the hot weather.
Limiting exposure to UV rays from the sun is advised, especially for children and vulnerable adults.
People are also advised to stay hydrated and conserve water where possible. The risk of fire will be high with very dry conditions so people are also reminded to properly extinguish any barbeques and avoid lighting open fires in wooded or grassland areas.
The UN’s IPCC has said that global warming has caused an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves.
Ireland recorded its hottest temperature in at least 135 years last month. The Met Éireann measuring site at Phoenix Park in Dublin hit 33 degrees Celsius on 18 July.
The world has already warmed by about 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times largely due to human activity, and the IPCC has warned that global heating is virtually certain to pass 1.5 degrees, probably within a decade.
With reporting from Emer Moreau and Jane Moore
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