It’s toasty this week.
New data from Met Éireann has shown that Ireland experienced its highest temperature in August almost two decades, as temperatures rose to nearly 30 degrees in some places.
The mercury reached 29.2 degrees at Oak Park in Carlow on Wednesday, the highest recored temperature in August since 2003.
Met Éireann said – although this is a provisional reading – that this is 9.3°C above its 1981-2010 long term average.
An orange-level high fire warning is now in effect for the entire country ahead of the incoming hot spell of weather.
Issued by the Department of Agriculture on Wednesday (10 August), it will remain in effect until midday next Tuesday.
The fire warning comes after Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow high-temperature warning for 18 counties.
Published on Tuesday, the alert will come into effect from 12pm on Thursday until 6am on Sunday and will apply to all counties in the provinces of Leinster and Munster.
Met Éireann’s warning states it will be “very warm or hot” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with maximum temperatures generally of 27 to 29 degrees.
Ahead of the heatwave, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has asked road users to be aware of the dangers posed by the heat.
Meanwhile, Irish Water has urged the public to conserve water to ensure supplies are healthy into late summer and autumn.
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