Hot and humid as high temperature warning remains in place

Weather Update from Met Éireann

Another hot and humid day is in store for Cavan and Monaghan today, Thursday, with temperatures potentially reaching 30 or 31 degrees in parts of the country.

Met Éireann has a Status Yellow High Temperature warning in place for Leinster and Tipperary, with maximum temperatures expected to exceed 27 degrees and overnight temperatures remaining above 15 degrees. The warning is valid until 6am on Friday, August 14. Met Éireann says the conditions could lead to heat stress, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, water safety issues and animal welfare concerns.

Today will be another humid and generally very warm or hot day, with variable cloud and sunny spells, with the best of the sunshine across the Midlands and east.

There will be outbreaks of rain or showers in parts of Connacht, Ulster and west Munster, some of which could be heavy, with scattered thunderstorms also possible, particularly further north.

Elsewhere, it will remain mainly dry for much of the day, although there is a chance of a few sharp, potentially thundery showers at any stage.

Cloud and outbreaks of showery rain and drizzle will begin moving eastwards during the evening.

Highest temperatures will generally range from 23 to 30 or 31 degrees, with the highest values expected further east. Temperatures will be closer to 20 degrees in coastal parts of the west and southwest, where mist and fog may also develop at times.

Winds will be light to moderate and mainly southwesterly.

Tonight will remain rather cloudy and humid for a time, with showers or outbreaks of rain and drizzle continuing to move eastwards. There is also the chance of a few lingering thunderstorms.

However, fresher conditions will spread in from the Atlantic overnight, bringing clear spells and just a few isolated light showers.

Lowest temperatures will range from 12 degrees in the west to around 17 degrees in the east, with light to moderate southwest winds veering west to northwest.

Friday will be a fresher day, with a fair amount of cloud but some sunny spells. There will be plenty of dry weather, with just a scattering of showers, mainly in the west and north.

Temperatures will range from 17 degrees in the northwest to 23 or 24 degrees in the southeast, with light to moderate northwest breezes.

Saturday is expected to be mainly dry, with variable cloud and sunny spells and just a few isolated light showers, mainly in the north and west. Highest temperatures will range from 16 or 17 degrees in the northwest to around 22 degrees in the southeast.

Saturday night should remain dry for most, although some showery rain could spread in from the west.

Sunday is also expected to bring plenty of dry weather, with a mixture of cloud and bright or sunny spells. Cloud will increase through the day, with some rain and drizzle possible along western coasts later.

Temperatures will range from 17 to 22 degrees.

The weather is expected to turn more unsettled from Monday as an Atlantic system brings rain eastwards across the country.