THE HEATWAVE-LEVEL temperatures that have been enjoyed this week will continue today – but some places will see showers.

Met Éireann classifies a heatwave as five days with temperatures over 25 degrees and today will top out at 28.

The heat has seen Met Éireann extend a status yellow heat warning until 10pm tonight.

Today is forecast to bring temperatures in excess of 27 degrees Celsius in Connacht, Munster and parts of south Leinster, Met Éireann says, but there is “the risk of the odd shower in the west or northwest”.

“However, it will be slightly cooler with top temperatures around 22 to 26 degrees in parts of the east and south in the light to moderate easterly breeze and also near western coasts in sea breezes.”

The warm weather is not expected to let up any time soon, with tomorrow expected to hit 28 degrees. Looking ahead to next week, warm weather will continue with hazy sunshine, but not as hot as this week.

The heat has forced Irish Water to put a hosepipe ban in place in the Greater Dublin Area from Monday.

As demand continues to outstrip supply and the warm weather looks set to continue, Irish Water said it has taken the extra step to use the legal options open to it.

Irish Water said it will examine the over 100 at risk schemes around the country for possible application of a Water Conservation Order.

The HSE’s advice is for people to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm and to apply sunscreen if you have to go out in the sun, and avoid extreme physical exertion like sport, DIY or gardening when the sun is at its hottest.