Near record temperatures are expected this weekend with the short but very hot period of weather set to continue until Sunday.
The Met Éireann Harmonie model is forecasting temperatures of 32 degrees in Dublin on Saturday, with a similar value expected in the south Leitrim/north Roscommon area.
Temperatures of 30 degrees are possible in many parts of the midlands with only the south of the country, especially Cork and Kerry, forecast to experience temperatures of less than 25 degrees.
The all-time record temperature for Ireland, 33.3 degrees, was recorded at Kilkenny Castle on June 26th, 1887, though there is some doubt now over that reading.
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The record temperature for this century, 33 degrees, was recorded at the Phoenix Park in Dublin on July 18th, 2022.
The highest temperature on Friday was 28 degrees, recorded at the Phoenix Park and Oak Park in Co Carlow at 3pm.
Temperatures are forecast to rise well above average on Friday, with highs of 25 to 28 or 29 degrees. There will be lots of evening sunshine and a very mild night is in store, with lowest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees.
The Department of Agriculture has issued a condition red forest fire warning for the weekend. Condition Red is the highest level of fire danger warning and its use here is rare.
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Visitors to forests, parks, beaches and other recreation areas are asked not to bring barbecues and other sources of ignition and to be mindful when parking so as to allow the emergency services access where necessary.
More than 4,300 hectares of land (10,400 acres), including more than 300 hectares (750 acres) of forest, has already been affected by fires so far this year. The department has issued seven fire danger notices to-date this year in response to high-risk weather phases.
A number of Status Yellow high temperature warnings are in place on Friday and over the weekend.
A warning for 14 counties - Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon and Tipperary - will remain in effect until 6am on Saturday.
A high temperature warning for the entire country will be in place from noon on Saturday until 6am on Sunday.
Saturday will be “another very warm day”, according to Met Éireann.
Temperatures will rise to between 26 and 29 or even 30 degrees with the warmest temperatures inland, away from the coast. A little cloud will push in across the west but it will be another largely dry day with light southerly breezes.
Temperatures will drop to 14 to 17 degrees on Saturday night.
Mild and very warm weather will continue through the weekend, but more unsettled and cooler weather will begin from next week.
It is expected to become rather cloudy on Sunday night as outbreaks of rain push in from the southwest. Lowest temperatures will range from 14 to 17 degrees.
Cloudy and unsettled weather is forecast for Monday, with a band of rain to move over the country in the morning. Sunny spells and scattered showers are due throughout the day.
Highest temperatures will range from 18 to 22 degrees though it may get warm again later in the week.
