Ireland breaks May record again as temperatures hit 30.5C in Co Clare 

Met Éireann says temperatures could climb further as Ireland experiences record-breaking heat, with the forecaster also issuing a high-temperature warning

The provisional May temperature record has been broken again, with Shannon Airport recording 30.5C on Tuesday.

It comes as a status yellow high-temperature warning remains in place for eight counties until 6pm on Wednesday.

The warning for Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, and Offaly came into effect at 12pm on Tuesday.

The new temperature record was recorded at 3pm in the Co Clare weather station. Higher temperatures were recorded in unofficial provisional observations at Met Éireann’s automatic climate stations (ACS), with Clonmel ACS recording 30.7C at 2pm on Tuesday — although these figures can take longer to verify.

Earlier on Tuesday, the temperature rose to 29.7C at Oak Park in Co Carlow, while Shannon Airport reached 28.6C. The new record surpasses Monday’s high of 28.6C, recorded at Shannon Airport.

The previous May record stood at 28.4C and was set in Co Kerry in 1997. The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3C at Kilkenny Castle in 1887.

Met Éireann warned that high temperatures could lead to water safety issues because of increased use of lakes and beaches, as well as an increased risk of forest fires and uncomfortable sleeping conditions.

The forecaster said the hot weather would continue into Wednesday with top temperatures of 22C to 31C, hottest in the Midwest and West.

⚠️Status Yellow High Temperature Warning Issued for:

📍Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois & Offaly

⏲️Valid: 12:00 today 26/05 to 18:00 tomorrow, Wed 27/05

➡️Max temps >27°C combined with night-time minima >15°C expected.

🔗https://t.co/w5QtJ1UyEP pic.twitter.com/jOrVRCyHpm

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) May 26, 2026

National outlook

The national forecaster said Tuesday will be another “warm or hot day” with dry weather and sunshine. The north and northwest will see cloudier conditions during the afternoon, with a chance of isolated showers.

However, highs of between 23C and 29C or 30C are expected, with the hottest weather in Munster and south Leinster.

Mild but cooler weather will follow on Tuesday night, with temperatures dropping to the low teens and ranging between 11C and 17C.

Wednesday will continue the “warm or hot spell” of weather and will be mainly dry and sunny. There is a chance of a few scattered showers, but highs of between 22C and 29C or 30C are expected, with the warmest conditions in the midwest and west.

Cloud will increase in the south on Wednesday night, bringing drizzle, mist, and fog, especially in southern counties. Met Éireann said there is also a likelihood of scattered thundery showers for a time, with temperatures ranging between 11C and 16C.

Thursday will bring some sunny spells for a time in parts of the east and north before conditions turn cloudy with light rain, drizzle, and mist. However, it will stay mainly dry in the east before brighter conditions develop from the west. Temperatures will range between 17C and 24C, with the warmest weather in the east.

Friday is expected to be relatively dry, with some sunny spells and highs of 17C to 22C, warmest in the east. Coastal parts of the west and northwest will be slightly cooler.

Saturday will start mainly dry with some sunny spells in the east. However, rain will move into the west early in the day before spreading eastwards through the morning and afternoon, with some heavy falls developing later. Sunny spells and showers will follow from the west later, some of them heavy, with a chance of thundery downpours in the north. Highs of 16C to 21C are expected.

Looking ahead to Sunday, lingering scattered showers will gradually become isolated before dry weather and sunny spells develop more widely. Highs of 15C to 19C are forecast.

Bank Holiday Monday, which also marks the first day of meteorological summer, will be cloudy at times with outbreaks of rain, turning heavy in places. The rain will clear eastwards later, followed by sunshine and highs of 15C to 20C.

Extreme heat across Europe 

Meanwhile, more than 350 French towns have recorded their highest-ever May temperatures as France and the UK set national heat records amid an extreme early-summer heat event. Temperatures in parts of Spain could rise to 40C by the end of the week.

The UK’s Met Office said the country’s May temperature record was broken when 34.8C was recorded at London’s Kew Gardens.

Météo France said late on Monday that new May temperature records had been set at 352 weather stations, mainly in western France. The highest reading, 37.1C, was recorded near Hossegor in the south-western department of Landes.

“This is an unprecedented event with a one in 1,000 chance of happening at this time of year based on the climate from 1979 to 2025 and virtually impossible in the preindustrial era,” Christophe Cassou, a climate scientist, told Le Monde.

The hot spell in Spain — where temperatures in some southern areas hit 38C over the weekend, between 5C and 10C above normal — is also expected to continue through the week, according to Rubén del Campo of the state meteorological office Aemet.

-Additional reporting from the Guardian