MET Eireann has issued a new six-hour high temperature warning for 17 counties on Sunday.
Weather boffins have warned mercury could soar to a sweltering 32C as high pressure grips Ireland and sunshine beats down across the country.
The hottest areas across the country this weekend have been pinpointed[/caption]
A Status Yellow high temperature alert has already been issued today for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon and Tipperary.
The alert will remain in place until 6am tomorrow.
Met Eireann has slapped the entire country with a high temperature warning from 12pm tomorrow until 6am on Sunday morning.
And the weather forecasters have placed 17 more counties under the same heat warning from 12pm on Sunday afternoon until 6pm that evening.
The entire Connacht region, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary are subject to the Status Yellow warning.
Met Eireann issued the alert after it was confirmed that maximum temperatures will reach 27C combined with night-time minimum temperatures over 15C for the weekend.
The weather bosses highlighted water safety issues – due to increased use of lakes and beaches -, forest fires, uncomfortable sleeping conditions and heat stress as possible impacts of the extreme weather.
Cathal Nolan – founder of Ireland’s Weather Channel – warned that some areas could hit a boiling 32C this weekend.
He pinpointed the Shannon basin area, low laying areas of Sligo and Leitrim and around the west shore of Lough Neagh and Lough Foyle in Derry as the spots most likely to experience the hottest weather.
And looking at the forecast for the entire country, Nolan said Ireland can expect “wall to wall sunshine” alongside warm and humid conditions.
He warned those in built up areas that buildings and cement holding heat could cause temperatures to feel even higher than forecast.
