New heat warning for Cork as hosepipe ban takes effect and disposable BBQ ban urged

Fresh heat alerts, water restrictions and renewed calls to ban disposable barbecues come as hot weather continues across Ireland

Alex Dwyer, Xanthe Kennelly, Catherine McDevitt, Caroline Kennelly and Juliette Cotter enjoy the sunshine during a sailing camp in Monkstown. Picture: Chani Anderson

A six-week hosepipe ban has come into force in six parts of the country as Met Éireann issued a fresh status yellow high-temperature warning for Cork and eight other counties.

The water conservation order applies to Dublin, south Tipperary and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow, where restrictions will remain in place until August 26 unless conditions improve.

While Cork is not included in the hosepipe ban, the county remains under a status yellow high-temperature warning from 12pm until 8pm tomorrow, alongside Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.

The new warning follows an earlier near nationwide heat alert, which remains in place until tomorrow morning for all of Munster, Connacht and several other counties.

Met Éireann warned temperatures could exceed 27C, bringing an increased risk of heat stress, forest fires, drought, water safety incidents and uncomfortable sleeping conditions.

Calls for barbecue ban 

The latest warnings come as the Social Democrats called for a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable barbecues during periods of hot weather.

Environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore said the Government's decision to ask retailers not to sell disposable barbecues while weather warnings are in place does not go far enough.

"As this recommendation is not legally binding, it will be a toothless, ineffective measure that risks being ignored by some retailers and their customers," she said.

Jennifer Whitmore said the Government's decision to ask retailers not to sell disposable barbecues while weather warnings are in place does not go far enough.

She called for stronger action.

"A complete ban on the sale of disposable barbecues - underpinned by multi-agency enforcement - should be put in place during periods of active hot weather alerts.

"There is far too much at stake - our natural environment, our wildlife, and the safety of our firefighters and local communities - to rely on a system of self-regulation," she added.

Water restrictions 

Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann said further hosepipe bans are being actively considered as prolonged dry weather continues to put pressure on supplies.

Night-time water restrictions are already in place on 39 public water supplies, including parts of Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford, Galway, Donegal, Cavan, Longford, Meath, Laois, Kilkenny and Wexford.

The water conservation order applies to Dublin, south Tipperary and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow, where restrictions will remain in place until August 26 unless conditions improve.

The utility said recent warm weather has driven a significant increase in water demand and urged customers to reduce non-essential water use to protect supplies for homes, hospitals, vulnerable customers and essential services.

Under the hosepipe ban, activities such as watering gardens with a hose, washing vehicles and filling paddling pools are prohibited.

Cork forecast 

In Cork, temperatures are expected to climb into the mid to high 20s over the coming days, with parts of Munster reaching 29C today.

Friday is forecast to bring highs of 25C to 27C across parts of the county, with warm nights continuing as temperatures remain between 14C and 16C.

The settled conditions are expected to continue into the weekend, with daytime highs of around 24C on Saturday and 17C to 23C on Sunday before cooler nights.

WEATHER CENTRE

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