The final full day of Ireland's current heatwave has brought temperatures close to 30 degrees once again, with “intense thunderstorms” now forecast this evening.
Met Éireann has issued a status orange thunderstorm and rain warning for Galway, Clare and north Tipperary.
The national forecaster said a line of intense thunderstorms will move through these areas during the afternoon and early evening, bringing lightning, hail and torrential downpours.
There is a risk of localised flooding in places, with motorists urged to take care in what could be very hazardous driving conditions.
The warning is valid until 7pm this evening.
⚠️Galway, Clare & north Tipperary upgraded to Status Orange thunderstorm and rain warning⛈️⚠️
Take care as sudden heavy downpours of rain and hail may occur as the thunderstorms cross the country.
More here⬇️https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/ozJuxTdyGOAdvertisement— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 23, 2021
A status yellow thunderstorm warning is already in place for all of the Republic, with Wicklow, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Mayo and Roscommon particularly at risk.
According to the forecaster, these storms will develop later in the afternoon and evening over counties in the midlands, west and south, bringing some locally heavy downpours and the risk of spot flooding.
The warning is valid until 8pm on Friday.
Whilst most areas will stay dry today, there are some thunderstorms ⛈️now developing - these will affect especially Midland & Western areas today. ⛈️
There is a risk of lightning & spot flooding ⚠️ 🌩️ 🌧️
More here👇https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/wjDvU8u31O— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 23, 2021
A status orange warning for high temperatures exceeding 30 degrees ran out for Cavan, Monaghan, south Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath at 9am this morning.
A status yellow warning for temperatures between 27 and 30 degrees, in place for the whole of the country, will meanwhile remain in place until 9am tomorrow after it was extended.
Met Éireann said Friday night will be humid and warm, with temperatures not falling below 15 to 17 degrees.
Weekend weather
Although the weekend will remain warm, temperatures will reduce to highs between 23 and 26 degrees on Saturday.
On Thursday, the temperature soared above 30 degrees for the second consecutive day, with the highest temperature in the Republic on Thursday recorded at 30.7 degrees at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon.
Maximum air temperatures today 22-07-2021 at our 25 synoptic weather stations ranged from 30.7°C at Mount Dillon to 23.2°C at Johnstown Castle🌡️📈
View today's full weather reports from our synoptic weather stations on our Current Observations page. https://t.co/MvCx72KIaT pic.twitter.com/7oNG4056FX— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 22, 2021
Met Éireann also said that Wednesday night was provisionally the first tropical night in Ireland for 20 years, with Valentia in Co Kerry not observing any temperature under 20.5 degrees.
Tropical nights, meaning shaded air remains above 20 degrees all night, are rare in Ireland, having previously only been recorded six times.
Met Éireann meteorologist Aoife Kealy said: “It looks like the high pressure that has brought us this hot and settled weather will gradually break down through the weekend and we’ll lose the very high temperatures.
“It’ll still be warm though, with temperatures into the low to mid 20s Celsius across the country on Saturday and Sunday.”
An Orange Forest Fire Warning issued by the Department of Agriculture due to the hot and dry conditions expired at 12pm on Friday.
