Met Éireann extends heat alert as Cork and Munster brace for 30C and tropical nights

A second heat warning has been issued as hot weather and warm nights are forecast to continue into next week

Liam McConville, Senior Ranger at Fota Wildlife Park, feeds the giraffes frozen cubes of their favourite treats to help keep them cool during the current heatwave. Picture: Chani Anderson

A new status yellow high-temperature warning has been issued by Met Éireann as the current hot spell is set to continue across Munster and much of the country into next week.

The first warning covers Carlow, Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford. It remains in effect until 7am on Sunday.

A second warning will come into effect at 1pm on Sunday and remain valid until 7am on Tuesday. It covers Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Mayo, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.

Met Éireann warned of maximum temperatures above 27C, combined with overnight lows staying above 15C. 

Potential impacts include heat stress, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, an increased risk of forest fires and water safety concerns as more people head to beaches, lakes and rivers.

Munster to see hottest conditions 

Munster is expected to experience some of the hottest weather in the country over the coming days.

Saturday will be dry, mostly sunny and very warm or hot, with temperatures reaching 23C to 29C, warmest in southern parts of the province.

The heat will continue overnight, with largely clear skies and temperatures only falling to between 15C and 18C.

Sunday is expected to be even hotter, with highs of 25C to 29C or locally 30C, particularly across the southwest. 

Coastal parts of Cork may remain a little cooler due to moderate easterly winds.

Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann has appealed to farms, households and businesses in a number of areas to conserve water during the hot weather.

Hot spell to continue 

Nationally, Met Éireann expects temperatures of 24C to 29C today, with the warmest conditions across the south and midlands. 

Sunday will see the hottest weather shift towards the west, midwest and southwest, while eastern coastal counties remain cooler under an onshore breeze.

The warm weather is forecast to continue throughout next week.

Monday and Tuesday will remain dry and mostly sunny, with highs of 23C to 28C, warmest across Munster and Connacht.

Forecasters say Wednesday could be the hottest day of the spell, with temperatures reaching the low 30s in parts of the midwest, west and southwest. 

Thursday is expected to bring another hot day, with Munster again forecast to record the highest temperatures.

While most areas will stay dry and sunny for much of the week, Met Éireann said increasing heat and humidity could trigger isolated showers or thunderstorms from Wednesday onwards, particularly across the south and west.

The hot conditions are expected to continue into Friday, with temperatures again reaching the high twenties in many areas, although scattered showers or thunderstorms are possible.