Hottest May day ever recorded in Ireland as temperatures near 29C

Automatic climate stations at Killarney and Clonmel recorded 28.8C around 3pm on Monday. The previous hottest May day was 28.4C on May 31, 1997. High pressure brought widespread sunshine and very warm temperatures across the country. Ireland is expected to see record-breaking heat this week, with temperatures climbing towards 28C, followed by a sharp cool-down. The warm spell is driven by winds from the Mediterranean and North Africa, bringing hot conditions to parts of Munster and Leinster. Fine weather is expected until Friday, with increasing cloud and showers from Thursday. An Atlantic front is expected to bring cooler, more unsettled conditions from the June bank holiday weekend, including rain showers next Monday.

"Killarney and Clonmel automatic climate stations recorded 28.8C at about 3pm on Monday. Met Éireann forecaster Holly O'Neill said the previous hottest May day was on May 31 ,1997. "High pressure has continued to bring widespread sunshine and very warm temperatures across the country today," she said."

""The highest temperature ever recorded in May was 28.4 degrees in 1997 in Ayr Ford County, Kerry. Provisionally, that was reached today with 28.4 degrees recorded at Oak Park in County Carlow." Ireland is set for record‑breaking heat this week as temperatures climb towards 28C before a sharp cool‑down."

"While the warm spell, brought by winds from the Mediterranean and North Africa, is set to bring hot conditions to parts of Munster and Leinster, forecasters said the heat will be brief, with temperatures expected to drop back to the teens by next Monday. The fine weather is expected to last until Friday, but with increasing cloud cover and showers from Thursday."

"Met Éireann's Donal Egan said Tuesday will be another sunny day, with highs of up to 28C. "It will be another warm day, even very warm for some, with long spells of sunshine though there will be some mist and fog patches early in the morning," he said. "The highest temperatures generally will be 20C to 28C, warmest in Munster and coolest in Ulster, especially near coasts where it will be cooler.""

Read at Irish Independent