Ireland's 33.3C record could be broken as high temperature warning issued
A man reads a book by himself during good weather at Seapoint beach in Dublin.
Met Éireann believes Ireland could see a new record-high temperature next week — and with at least one rare tropical night thrown in.
The highest recorded temperature for Ireland was 33.3C at Kilkenny Castle in June 1887, but that record is under threat with an advisory that temperatures of 32C and possibly above are likely on Monday, and potentially on Tuesday, before cooler air sweeps back over the country.
Met Éireann have issued a High Temperature Advisory for Ireland 🌡️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 13, 2022
Ireland will experience a hot spell on Sunday and into early next week. Day time temperatures will widely reach the high 20's, may exceed 30°C in some locations
Further details & updates https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/8DvTsc1UqU
Meteorologist Paul Downes of Met Éireann said of the existing record: "We definitely will be getting close to it on Monday.
Mr Downes said the summer over Europe had been marked by "heatwave after heatwave", although the various factors which dictate our weather — such as being surrounded by water — have tended to moderate excessive heat here.
It is likely to lead to uncomfortable nights, with temperatures in the high teens or low 20s — "oppressive", in the words of Mr Downes, and marking a very rare tropical night.
Met Éireann issued a warning over "exceptionally" high temperatures this weekend and into next week.
On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday daytime temperatures will range from 25C to 30C generally and possibly up to 32C in places on Monday.
Issuing a Yellow weather warning nationwide, the forecaster said there was a risk of water-related incidents, an impact of heat stress especially for more vulnerable people, and a high UV index.
The warning comes into affect from 6am on Sunday and lasts until 9pm on Tuesday.
The weather may be welcomed by some, but it comes with warnings — not just about the impact of climate change on weather patterns globally, but also the risk of overheating and dehydrating.
As the low-pressure weather system pushes hot air towards Ireland from Portugal, temperatures will rise, possibly past the 32.3C recorded in Elphin in Roscommon in 2006 — the previous July record — and possibly to an all-time high.
Meanwhile, the UK's Met Office has issued its first ever red warning for extreme heat, as it warned of a “potentially very serious situation”.
Grahame Madge, Met Office spokesman, said: “We’ve just issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday which is the first such warning ever issued.
“The warning covers an area from London up to Manchester and then up to the Vale of York.
“This is potentially a very serious situation.”
