Flip-flop sales soar as hot spell continues

Shoe sales must be flopping this week as the footwear that has most shoppers in a flap is the humble flip-flop.

According to Tesco, summer footwear is in high demand with sales soaring by 271% compared to last week. It said flip-flop sales are up by 382%.

Solid fuel producers must also be getting hot under the collar. Irish summers aren’t normally the best sales periods for coal products, but thanks to the weather, instant barbecues and coals are also hot sellers, up 1,181% compared to last week.

Sweltering temperatures have led to water shortages and hosepipe bans around the country, but the shops are making a cool profit on the frozen version. Tesco was on course to sell 84,000kg of ice this week.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people may have flocked to waterways to cool off from the intense heat, but for the fish in those waters the weather is causing deadly conditions.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) says low water levels and high water temperatures may lead to fish kills.

“As temperatures for salmon and trout are perilously hot at the moment, fish kills may be unavoidable,” said IFI chief executive Ciaran Byrne.

“In many instances, moving fish may also prove too stressful.”

IFI has appealed to anglers and the public to report any sightings of distressed fish. It has also asked anglers to voluntarily cease using keep nets during the hot weather so as to avoid causing unintentional distress to the fish contained for long periods in the nets.

Reports may be made to the local fisheries offices (listed below) or the 24-hour hotline number on 1890 347424.

The near-30C temperatures that much of the country has been experiencing over the last week are set to cool off from today, though Met Éireann says the South will still reach as high as 26C.

The weather forecaster said tomorrow will be also be warm with some good sunny spells and a high of 25C, though it will be cloudier and cooler along Atlantic coastal areas.

Temperatures will drop a little lower again early next week but it will be dry and bright in most places.