Thursday scorcher makes new record high temperature possible

Eva Osborne and Michael Bolton

Thursday is set to be the hottest day of the year so far, with Met Éireann forecasting temperatures up to 31C and beyond.

A Met Éireann meteorologist has said record temperatures in Ireland will be “challenged” on Thursday.

The highest temperature recorded in Ireland was 33.3C at Kilkenny Caste on June 26th, 1887.

A status yellow high temperature warning has been in place since noon on Tuesday and was originally set to expire at 9am on Friday.

It has been extended until 9am on Saturday.

Met Éireann said it will be hot and humid across the country today.

There has also been a yellow thunderstorm warning issued for six counties.

The warning for all of Connacht and Donegal begins at 3pm on Thursday and will end at 6 pm on Friday.

Met Éireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland: "There is potential for the record to be challenged but it’s not in any way certain that it’s going to be broken."

It will be dry with good sunshine on Thursday, but thunderstorms may develop at times in the west and northwest.

These will bring "torrential downpours", the weather forecaster said, with frequent lightning and gusty winds if they occur.

Highest temperatures will range from 25C to 31C, and possibly higher in some places.

Hottest temperatures are expected across the Midlands and in the west of the country.

Met Éireann said the hot weather increases water safety issues due to a spike in the rise of lakes and beaches.

Other impacts include uncomfortable sleeping conditions, heat stress, and the possibility of forest fires.

The hot conditions will continue on Friday, with the highest temperatures expected to range from 23C to 29C.

It will continue to be warm and humid with a mixture of sunny spells and showers.

Some of the showers will be heavy and thundery, merging to longer spells of rain at times with spot flooding and frequent lightning possible, particularly across the midlands, west and north.

Met Éireann said it will be warmest across the midlands, east, and northeast, but a few degrees cooler in the northwest and near the south coast.

The Road Safety Authority has advised motorists to slow down and allow a greater braking distance between you and the vehicle in front in wet weather conditions and when driving through water, drive slowly with your foot lightly on the brake pedal for a short distance to help dry the brakes.

Additional reporting PA.