Wet weather could return this weekend, says Met Éireann

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Rain could return this weekend after a prolonged period of dry weather.

Met Éireann said on Monday that high pressure will bring dry and warm conditions for most people in Ireland this week.

Some light, occasionally moderate, north to northwest breezes are also forecast, and it will be cooler in the north and northwest with the possibility of some light rain and drizzle.

https://x.com/MetEireann/status/2079194793544994887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Later this week, the meteorological service said, the influence of the high pressure will decline with some rain and showers expected this weekend.

Highest temperatures will range from the mid to high teens in the west and north, to the low to mid-20s in the south and east.

Prolonged periods of dry weather this summer led to the implementation of a six-week hosepipe ban in Dublin, South Tipperary, and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Issuing the water conservation order on July 13th, Uisce Éireann said national domestic customer water use was around 20 per cent higher than typical levels, driven largely by “non-essential outdoor use”.

The order is due to expire on August 26th.

Other parts of the country have seen overnight water restrictions for homes and businesses to allow reservoir levels to be restored.

Over the weekend, a high fire risk orange warning was in place because of the warm, dry weather.

It stated: “A high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where flammable vegetation such as dead grasses and heather and gorse exist.”

A heat dome over western Europe resulted in an “exceptionally warm” June, Met Éireann said, with average temperatures 1.65C above the long-term average.

Between June 25th and 26th, six of its weather stations recorded their all-time highest maximum temperature.