TEMPERATURES in Dublin could top 26C this week as a hot Continental airmass grips the country.
People have been urged to “get the paddling pools ready” as Ireland prepares to bake under the heat dome that has been dominating much of Europe’s weather for the entire month of July.
Dublin looks set to bask in some of the warmest temperatures later this week[/caption]
Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly confirmed sunshine will beam down and conditions will heat up towards the end of the week.
He said: “A breezy Monday but good sunny spells for many and a good week ahead that will get warmer and warmer with Friday and weekend looking warm as temperatures get above 25C.
“Get the paddling pools ready.”
Tomorrow will be “warm and humid” with sunny spells but cloudier skies at times, especially later on in the day when the odd spot of drizzle may develop.
Temperatures could hit between 19C to 21C.
Looking towards the week ahead, Met Eireann said: “The Azores High will build this week with warm and settled weather to come.
“Becoming very warm or even hot from Thursday.”
Wednesday is forecast to be a dry day in Dublin, but it will be generally cloudy.
Met Eireann said warm sunshine will break through the clouds over the capital and temperatures could hit 24C.
Thursday is expected to be a dry day for most with warm spells of sunshine, but weather boffins confirmed Dublin will miss out on the possibly cloudy conditions forecast for north and northwest areas.
Temperatures in the east will hit between 21C and 26C.
Met Eireann pinpointed Friday as the hottest day of the week.
It said: “A very warm or hot Continental airmass looks likely to feed up across Ireland with sunny conditions occurring widely.
“Top temperatures of 22C to 28C generally in just light southerly breezes.”
And Dublin looks set to be one of the warmest areas in the country.
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE EVER
THE highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3C.
The sweltering heat was recorded at Kilkenny Castle in June of 1887.
The Phoenix Park has provisionally recorded the highest temperature since its weather station opened in the early 1800s.
And on Monday July 18 in 2022, at around 3:30pm, the thermometer hit 33C – marking the highest temperature ever recorded in Dublin.
The Phoenix Park recording also marked the hottest of the 21st century, beating Elphin, Co Roscommon’s record of 32.3C in July of 2006.
Other stations which have recorded provisional highest-ever temperatures include Dunsany in Co Meath, which once hit 30.2C, and Mullingar in Co Westmeath, which recorded 30.4C heat.
Met Eireann could issue some hot weather warnings later this week.
A Status Yellow high temperatures warning is issued if temperatures over a wide area exceed 27C at their max and 15C at their minimum.
A Status Orange “threat to life” high temperature warning is issued if maximum temperatures are in excess of 30C for three consecutive days and a minimum of 20C for consecutive nights.
Met Eireann confirmed that some uncertainty still remains surrounding the weather this weekend, but said there is potential for widespread hot sunny weather to remain.
HOW HOT WILL IT GET?
Kenneth McDonagh from the Donegal Weather Channel said details on just how hot it will get will become clearer over the coming days.
He explained: “The good news over the last 24 to 48hrs hours is that weather forecasting models are trending more towards a hot spell later next week and next weekend again.
“I did mention a few weeks ago the best chance for warmer conditions to return would be into the 2nd and 3rd week of July with this now looking more solid.
“Temperatures for many are looking to rise into the mid to high 20s with 30C even likely in some areas locally but that detail on how hot it will get will become more clear early next week.
“Conditions will really improve by Wednesday with temperatures in the low to mid 20s rising into the mid to high 20s on Thursday, Friday and next weekend with plenty of sunshine also looking likely.”
Met Eireann said confidence is low in the forecast for the week starting on July 14 but warned there is still a signal for high pressure over most of Ireland.
The far southwest is an exception to this trend, with the areas showing “no specific marker” for either high or low pressure.
Met Eireann said: “Temperatures are expected to remain above average with precipitation amounts below average.”
Ireland is bracing for some of the heatwave that has blasted Europe this month[/caption]
Dublin city centre will be blasted by high temperatures and sunshine later this week[/caption]
