Ireland's Weather Forecast: Hot and Humid Tuesday Kicks Off a Scorching Week

If you've been waiting for summer to truly arrive, it seems your patience is about to be rewarded. Today, Tuesday, June 23rd, marks the beginning of what Met Éireann describes as a "hot and humid" week for Ireland. Temperatures are set to soar, with some parts of the country potentially reaching an exceptionally high 33 or 34 degrees by Thursday. That kind of forecast makes me start planning where the nearest ice cream shop is.

Today itself looks pretty glorious for most of us. Expect warm or very warm conditions, with humidity building. We're talking plenty of sunshine across the majority of the island. There's always a chance of an isolated shower popping up somewhere, but for the most part, it's dry. If you're in the northwest, west, or southwest, you might see a bit more cloud cover, possibly with some isolated drizzle, mist, and even coastal fog. Light westerly or variable breezes will dictate exactly how those conditions play out.

Temperatures today will generally be between 22 and 29 degrees. The south and east are in for the warmest weather, which often happens with high-pressure systems. However, if you're in parts of the northwest, west, or southwest, it will be a slightly cooler but still pleasant 19 to 21 degrees. For me, anything above 20 in Ireland is a win, so this is certainly good news for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Tonight's Outlook: Mild and Muggy

As we head into tonight, most places should remain dry with some clear spells. However, that cloud cover we mentioned for the west and northwest will continue, bringing a few spots of drizzle. This cloudiness will gradually spread to other areas overnight, though clear spells will likely linger further south. Keep an eye out for some mist and fog patches developing too.

Temperature-wise, it's going to be a mild night. Lowest temperatures in parts of the west and north will be between 12 and 15 degrees. Elsewhere, it will be even milder and noticeably humid, with temperatures not dropping below 15 to 18 degrees. Light and variable winds mean there won't be much to break up the mugginess. If you struggle to sleep in humid conditions, now might be the time to dig out that fan.

Tomorrow: Sunshine Spreads, Heat Intensifies

Looking ahead to Wednesday, June 24th, it's likely we'll start with a fairly cloudy morning, especially if you're in the northern half of the country. But don't despair, because the southern half is expected to wake up to good spells of sunshine. The good news is that this sunshine will gradually become more widespread as the day progresses.

While many areas will stay dry, there's a chance of a few spots of light rain and drizzle, mainly in Connacht and Ulster, particularly further to the west. Elsewhere, a few isolated showers are also possible. Despite these minor interruptions, it's going to be another very warm, even hot, and humid day. Highest temperatures are generally forecast to be between 23 and 29 degrees, with the southern half of the country once again seeing the warmest conditions. Some coastal areas might be a little cooler, but overall, it's definitely a day for light clothing and plenty of fluids.

The Week Ahead: A Heatwave Peaks, Then Changes

The national outlook from Met Éireann paints a clear picture: this hot and humid weather is here to stay for the rest of the working week, with the heat truly peaking on Thursday. We can expect a lot of dry weather initially, but later on Thursday, some showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop.

By the weekend, we'll see a gradual shift towards cooler and more changeable conditions. Rain is expected to move in from the Atlantic on Saturday, bringing a noticeable change. Sunday, however, looks set to bring a fresher feel, with drier and brighter conditions, sunshine, and scattered showers.

Wednesday Night: Staying Mild

Wednesday night will be another very mild and humid one, mostly dry with clear spells. Connacht and Ulster might see a bit more cloud, with a few patches of light rain and drizzle possible in the west and northwest. It will be incredibly mild, with temperatures not falling below 14 degrees in the northwest and a whopping 18 or 19 degrees in the southwest.

Thursday: The Peak of the Heat

Thursday is shaping up to be an exceptionally hot and humid day across Ireland. There might be a little patchy light rain and drizzle early on in the northwest, but otherwise, it's expected to be mostly sunny for a time, staying dry for many. However, some shower clouds will form during the day, most likely in parts of Connacht and Ulster, especially in the northwest, where some thunderstorms are likely later on.

Temperatures will generally range from the high twenties to the low thirties. Yes, you read that right. There's even a possibility of reaching around 33 or 34 degrees, with the midlands and west being the hottest. Some coastal parts might be a few degrees lower. Winds will be mostly moderate east to southeast. This is serious heat for Ireland, so take precautions.

Thursday Night: Stormy Conditions Possible

Further heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to continue on Thursday night in parts of Connacht and Ulster. A longer spell of persistent rain could encroach into coastal parts of the northwest and west, bringing the possibility of some spot flooding and frequent lightning. Elsewhere, it's likely to hold dry with some clear spells. It will be an exceptionally mild and muggy night, with temperatures not falling below 15 and 22 degrees. Winds will generally ease to light to moderate and variable, though becoming moderate to fresh northerly in some coastal parts of the west.

Friday: Still Hot, Showers Spread

Friday will see some persistent heavy thundery rain likely affecting northwest Connacht and west Ulster for a time. However, a good deal of dry weather is still expected elsewhere, with sunshine, but with the chance of some showers and thunderstorms, especially further north. It's possible that southern parts of Munster and Leinster will be cloudier overall. It will still be very warm or hot generally and humid, with highest temperatures ranging from around 23 to 30 degrees, hottest across the northern half of the country. It's likely to be a little cooler by the south coast, with values of around 20 degrees there. Winds will become mostly southerly and will be moderate to fresh.

Friday Night: Rain Moves In

Another very mild and muggy night on Friday night with a mix of clear spells and some showers at first, before cloud increases from the southwest, and with rain starting to move in from the southwest and west. Lowest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees in moderate to fresh south to southeast winds.

Saturday: Cooler and Wetter

Some bright or sunny spells are possible at times in the east, but Saturday will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain slowly becoming more widespread from the west. Highest temperatures will range from 17 or 18 degrees along the west coast up to around 23 or 24 degrees in the east, in moderate to fresh southerly winds. This will feel like a noticeable drop after the earlier heat.

Sunday: Fresher and Breezy

The last of the rain will clear eastwards on Saturday night or early on Sunday, and cooler, fresher conditions will become established across the country. We can expect good sunny spells but with a scattering of showers too. It will be rather breezy, especially further west, with moderate to fresh southwest winds, a little stronger in western coastal parts. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 or 21 degrees, warmest in the east. This means we'll be returning to average temperatures for the time of year, making Sunday feel much more like a typical Irish summer day after the heatwave.

So, there you have it. A real mixed bag for the week, starting with scorching temperatures and ending with something a bit more familiar. Make the most of the sunshine, stay hydrated, and keep an eye on the Met Éireann forecast at Met.ie for any updates, especially around those possible thunderstorms. It's going to be an interesting week for the Irish weather, that's for sure.