Temperatures of up to 31C expected as 13 counties remain under yellow warning

Thursday will be humid and a generally very warm or hot day with sunny spells, best in the Midlands and east. Picture: Chani Anderson

Temperatures could get up to 31C on Thursday as Leinster and Tipperary remain under a high temperature warning. 

Met Éireann said the warning, which will remain in place until 6am on Friday, will see water safety issues due to increased use of beaches/lakes/rivers, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, heat stress and animal welfare issues. 

Thursday will be humid and a generally very warm or hot day with sunny spells, best in the Midlands and east. There will be showery outbreaks of rain or showers in parts of Connacht, Ulster and west Munster - some heavy with the possibility of thunderstorms. Highs of up to 30C or 31C are expected. 

It will then be cloudy and humid for a time with showers of rain and drizzle moving eastwards, along with a few lingering thunderstorms. Temperatures of between 12C and 17C are expected. 

Friday will be a fresher day with a fair deal of cloud and some sunny spells. There will be plenty of dry weather with just some well-scattered showers, mainly in the west and north. Highs of 17C to 23C or 24C are expected during the day. 

It will stay dry on Friday night with some cloud and clear spells and just a few isolated showers, with lows of 11C to 14C. 

Friends and families having fun at the Lagoon Activity centre in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork. Picture Chani Anderson

Saturday will then be mainly dry with cloud and sunny spells. There will also be some light showers in the north and west, with highs of 16C to 17C in the northwest and 22C in the southwest. 

Dry weather will continue on Saturday night, with Met Éireann saying there is a chance that a little showery rain will come in from the west. 

Sunday will see a mix of cloud and some bright or sunny spells with the chance of some rain and drizzle along the west coast later in the day. Highs of 17C to 22C are expected, with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle moving in from the west later in the evening. 

Looking into next week, Monday will be a breezy day and cloudy for a time, with rain coming in from the east across the country through the morning and early afternoon, turning heavy at times.  It will be followed by bright or sunny spells and a scattering of showers. It will also be humid with highs of 19C to 23C. Blustery and showery weather is set for the night. 

Tuesday will see a mix of cloud and sunny spells, with a longer spell of rain further north. Highs of 16C to 20C are set for the day. 

Looking further into the week, Wednesday will bring a good deal of dry weather with bright or sunny spells and highs of 15C to 20C.