Mercury to hit 23 degrees early next week

Temperatures are set to increase later this week, a much welcome update after recent downpours.

While Met Éireann Forecaster Aoife Kealy said we are not likely to experience a heatwave, temperatures are set to hit 23 degrees Celsius early next week.

Heatwave conditions occur when temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. “What we are seeing next week is not quite reaching that threshold,” Ms Kealy reported. However she added: “We are going to see temperatures rise.”

Met Éireann predicts a “steady increase” in temperatures as this week goes on, and by the weekend there will be high pressure closer to the country and “a bit more sunshine”.

“We’ll see the temperature in to high teens or possibly the low twenties.”

These temperatures are expected to continue early next week “at the very least”, with a maximum of 23 or 24 degrees. Beyond Wednesday, the weather “becomes a little more uncertain”.

“Even if it’s not actually a heatwave it’s still going to feel quite a bit warmer with plenty of sunshine around and generally light winds.”

Ms Kealy said the first summery spell of the year will bring moderate to high UV rays and asked people to “be sun smart and protect themselves”.

As this week marks Water Safety Awareness Week, she also urged people to “take care” if they are in or near water during the fine spell of weather.