Temperatures are expected to peak tomorrow around the country and could yet reach the record for the hottest day in the last 100 years, Met Éireann has said. Fiona Gartland reports.
The meteorological service expects temperatures to top 30 degrees in some parts of the country tomorrow, with the possibility of reaching the June 1976 record of 31.6 degrees at Shannon airport. However, the all-time high of 33.33 degrees recorded at Kilkenny Castle on June 26th, 1887, is not likely to be reached.
The heatwave is expected to break late tomorrow when cloud will move into the west.
Thursday will still be very warm but thundery showers are anticipated and temperatures on Friday will be cooler. Over the weekend, the weather should return to near- normal for July, with temperatures in the high teens and early 20s.
Kilkenny and Birr, Co Offaly, were the hottest areas yesterday, with temperatures peaking at 29 degrees at 3pm.
At Casement aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co Dublin, temperatures reached 28 degrees and, despite a coastal breeze, Dublin airport recorded its highest point of 26 degrees at 1pm.
Shannon airport held a steady 27 degrees throughout yesterday afternoon but temperatures at Rosslare, the coolest in the country, never exceeded 18.
Though higher temperatures were reported by individuals around the country yesterday, these are not considered scientifically reliable and could be complicated by issues such as position and reliability of the thermometer.
Met Éireann measures air temperature in a uniform way at each weather station, at a height of 1.2m above a flat surface covered with short grass, in Stevenson screens.
Jim O'Brien, meteorologist with Met Éireann, forecasts that after the thundery showers, temperatures will begin returning to normal.
"After Thursday, it will be back to westerly winds, which will bring in Atlantic air and more normal temperatures," he says. Asked whether this summer could be one of the best on record, Mr O'Brien says it's early days yet. "It has been fairly good so far, but a few weeks of rain could put a stop to that easily enough."
Meanwhile, Paddy Power bookmakers is offering odds of 3/1 that the all-time Irish record of 33.33 degrees will be broken this summer. It is also accepting bets on which will be the hottest day this weekend.