Temperatures expected to hit 29C on Friday before weekend thunderstorms arrive

Pack the sunglasses for Friday. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

It is almost certain that Friday will be the warmest day of the year so far in Ireland, with temperatures set to reach a high of 29C in some areas.

However, that could mark the peak of the current spell, as the national forecaster Met Éireann has warned that an "unsettled" period is on the way.

Friday will be humid, but thunderstorms are expected in the west, with a yellow weather warning for Clare and Galway expiring at 9am.

Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, and North Tipperary remain under a thunderstorm warning until 11.30am.

After that, it will become "a very warm or hot day with long spells of sunshine."

Highest temperatures of 24C to 29C are expected across most of the country, with slightly cooler conditions in Munster and south Leinster, where temperatures will range from 20C to 23C.

It will be a mild night, with temperatures falling only as low as 12C to 17C.

Saturday will remain warm, with good sunny spells across most of the country, although cloudier conditions are likely in the west.

"Scattered showers will occur across the country, some heavy and possibly thundery at times," Met Éireann said.

Saturday’s highest temperatures will range from 19C to 25C, warmest in the eastern half of the country, with a light to moderate southwesterly wind.

Sunday is when the weather will begin to change, as showery rain moves in from the west during the morning, followed by sunny spells and scattered showers.

The forecast states: "Fresher and breezier than recent days, with highest temperatures of 15C to 20C, warmest in the east, and rather brisk westerly winds."

Though it is still early, temperatures are expected to return to seasonal averages early next week, not exceeding 19C on Monday or Tuesday.

Thursday was Ireland's warmest day of 2025 so far, as Roscommon hit 27C.