Sunshine all weekend 'but back to rain next week'
The summer sunshine is set to continue in to the weekend with high temperatures forecast in most parts of the country.
Met Éireann said it will be up to 23°C (73°F) tomorrow, with the dry spell on Saturday and Sunday keeping temperatures in the early 20s.
However, it warned the weather is expected to gradually worsen early next week, with temperatures dropping back to normal on Monday and outbreaks of rain affecting Connacht and west Munster.
“This will be followed by more widespread and heavier rain through next Tuesday,” it added.
Irish Cancer Society warned people to stay sun smart when flocking to back gardens, beaches and parks.
It said skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, but that nine out of every 10 cases could be prevented if people took more care when outdoors.
Rosemary Scott, health promotion officer, said the main cause of skin cancer is UV rays from the sun.
“One of the difficulties is that you can’t see or feel the UV rays that are causing the damage,” she said.
“The reality is that up to 90% of UV rays can get through light cloud so get into the habit of being SunSmart every day, when at home and abroad, whether you are on the beach, playing sports, gardening or working.”
Tips include covering up, wearing sun cream and staying in the shade when rays are strongest.
Elsewhere a study has revealed that over the last 30 years Ireland has had seven heatwaves – where the maximum daily temperature is above 25°C (77°F) for a number of days – resulting in almost 300 deaths.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the research by DIT that showed past heatwaves have resulted in increased deaths, illness and people taken to hospital.
Heatwaves were recorded at most meteorological stations in July 1983, August 1984, June 1995, August 1995, June 2003, August 2003 and July 2006.
They were associated with approximately 294 greater than expected deaths with the majority – 241 – in rural areas.
