Temperature warning with highs of 27 degrees, 15 degrees overnight
James Cox
The yellow alert for high temperatures kicks in for 12 counties at lunchtime today and lasts until Sunday morning.
Temperatures of around 27 degrees are expected during the day, falling no lower than 15 degrees at night.
People are urged to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and be careful of glaring sun while driving.
The warning applies to Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford.
It will apply between 1pm on Friday and 7am on Sunday.
It comes on top of a general warm weather advisory for the entire country which began on Wednesday and continues until Tuesday.
The UV Index is also expected to be high to very high, with Met Éireann advising of further possible “tropical nights” over the weekend and some thunderstorms.
Met Éireann's forecast for Friday reads: "A very warm or hot day for most today. Dry for most with hazy sunny spells but with mist and fog in places early this morning. Highest temperatures of 21 to 29 degrees, warmest in the south, with light, occasionally moderate north or northeast breezes. Cooler and cloudier in the west and northwest with isolated showers before brightening up later."
Saturday will see highs of 29 degrees.
Met Éireann said the warm weather is likely to last until at least Thursday, while "temperatures will likely fall back closer to average for next Friday and the weekend".
