Ireland faces May heatwave with temps forecast to hit 30°C

Ireland is experiencing an unusually intense May heatwave, with temperatures forecast to potentially break national records this week. The national meteorological service, Met Éireann, has warned that temperatures could reach 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, surpassing the previous May record of 28.4 degrees set in County Kerry in 1997. The current hot spell began over the weekend, with Sunday's temperatures already reaching 28.8 degrees at two weather stations, officially exceeding the longstanding record.

The warmest conditions are expected in the provinces of Leinster and Munster, with long spells of sunshine forecast across the country. Monday saw highs of 27 degrees, and Tuesday is anticipated to be the peak of the heatwave. A forecaster from Carlow Weather indicated that Tuesday could specifically challenge the all-time May high temperature record. The elevated temperatures coincide with a significant heat event in the United Kingdom, where Monday was forecast to be the hottest bank holiday on record.

Following the mid-week peak, conditions are expected to gradually become more unsettled. Met Éireann forecasts a shift to cooler and more mixed weather from Thursday onward,...