Heatwave: Ireland within 1C of all-time September temperature

Fri, 08 Sep, 2023 - 19:00

Steven Heaney

Ireland's all-time high temperature for September was not officially broken today, though heatwave status was reached by four of the country's weather stations.

The mercury hit 28.2C in Oak Park in Carlow this afternoon, just .9C shy of the all-time September high of 29.1C set at Clongowes Wood College, Kildare on Saturday, September 1, 1906.

Heatwave status is reached when a maximum daily shaded air temperature of greater than 25C is reached at a Met Éireann weather station for five or more consecutive days.

Provisional data suggests 4 stations have reached heatwave status already today👇
Oak Park, Mount Dillon, Gurteen & Shannon Airport
A heatwave occurs at a Met Éireann weather station when its daily maximum shaded air temperature is greater than 25°C for 5 or more consecutive days pic.twitter.com/z6sa9LOfqi
— Climate Services @ Met Éireann (@METclimate) September 8, 2023

Four stations - Oak Park, Mount Dillon in Roscommon, Gurteen in Tipperary, and Shannon Airport - reached heatwave status this afternoon with recorded temperatures of 28.2C, 26.8C, 26.5C and 26C, respectively.

According to Met Éireann, this is not the first time heatwave status has been reached in the month of September - the status was reached at Kilkenny Castle in September 1959, and twice elsewhere in September of 1991.

This year is the first time a September heatwave has occurred with a temperature of 28C or more, however.

Over the past three days, 14 of the national forecaster's 25 weather stations have seen their maximum September temperatures broken.

Weekend forecast

Meanwhile, status yellow temperature warning remains in place until 8am Saturday, meaning there is an increased risk of heat stress. Uncomfortable sleeping conditions are likely again tonight, and there is also a risk of water-related incidents.

While temperatures have consistently been higher than 25C across much of the country in recent days, things look set to cool down from tomorrow, but only slightly.

#Weekend Weather Update

Warm or very warm this weekend but with the increasing likelihood of some thundery spells of rain ☀️🥵⛈️🌦️

Temperatures falling back next week as a change in airmass sets in 🌡️📉

Find more here ⬇️https://t.co/yEsIuCkWlq pic.twitter.com/f1VNP4uMNj
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) September 8, 2023

Saturday is predicted to be a more cloudy day overall than Friday, though there will be good sunny spells in many areas, particularly in the south and southeast.

High humidity will also bring an increased chance of isolated thunderstorms developing as the day goes on.

Temperatures tomorrow will range from 21C to 26C, with conditions slightly cooler than this in the far northwest.

Both tonight and tomorrow night will be mild and humid with temperatures expected to fall back to between 14C to 18C.

Sunday will be marginally cooler again, with temperatures forecast to range from 19C to 24C.

Some scattered showers will be seen on Sunday, which may cause spot flooding in some areas.