Sea temperatures 5C hotter than normal off west coast due to marine heatwave

A major deluge of rain in Tralee caused significant flooding to the Kerry town on Saturday. Picture: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus 

A marine heatwave off the west coast has led to a spike in sea temperatures up to 5C higher than normal, as Kerry cleans up after a sudden rain onslaught on Saturday.

While it is too early to link a single weather event to climate change, scientists have consistently warned that heatwaves in the sea can have impacts such as storms and floods locally.