Things heat up over holiday weekend

THE HIGHEST temperatures recorded so far this year - 20.4C at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon - arrived right on cue over the Bank Holiday weekend, the official first weekend of summer.

As day-trippers and holiday-makers flocked to the sea or the countryside to enjoy the sudden sunshine and blue skies, delays were recorded at all the usual blackspots - now getting further from Dublin - including Abbeyleix, Co Laois, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, Moate, Co Westmeath, and the N11 south of the Beehive in Co Wicklow.

However, AA Roadwatch reported that despite the large number of festivals and events across the country there were "no major problems" in the regional cities of Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway.

In Limerick, George's Quay was to remain closed until 9am today to facilitate the river-fest.

There was some disruption to traffic in Kilkenny due to the Carlsberg Rhythm Roots Festival, but "no major incidents" were reported.

Fog which moved in along the south and east yesterday caused some problems for boaters, with a number of people on small craft becoming lost or disoriented and having to be rescued by the RNLI.

A man lost in fog on Dublin Bay yesterday afternoon was rescued after he managed to raise the alarm using a mobile phone.

The lone occupant of an 8ft inflatable boat was discovered near Clontarf, and directed to the north Bull Wall. He was then taken back to Dún Laoghaire by a lifeboat.

Also in Dublin yesterday, thousands of day-trippers on the Dart were delayed following an incident which saw services halted between Blackrock and Booterstown for a number of hours in the late afternoon. Service was resumed by 7pm.

Despite the high temperatures more than 250,000 people used Dublin airport over the weekend, with ferry companies also reporting brisk business.

Met Éireann said temperatures began to rise on Friday, with top temperatures at Finner Camp in Co Donegal hitting 20.2C on Saturday.

A Dublin high of 19.9C was recorded in the Phoenix Park on Saturday.

However, according to forecaster Joan Blackburn, the highest was Mount Dillon, which recorded its high of 20.4C on Sunday afternoon.

The outlook for the next few days is not quite as good, however, as the pattern is "not settled", according to Ms Blackburn.

Today will be more cloudy than the weekend, with the risk of showers returning, mainly in the west and southwest. However, afternoon temperatures will reach 17C to 21C away from exposed coasts.

There will still be a risk of low cloud and fog on parts of the south and east coast but not as widespread as yesterday.

Tonight and Wednesday will be dry in most places, with clear spells overnight and spells of warm sunshine during the day.

However, in the far west of Connacht and Munster it will be cloudier with a risk of coastal drizzle. Temperatures will reach the high teens to the low 20s.