Temperatures have reached nearly 28 degrees, making Saturday the hottest day of the year so far.

Met Éireann said current indications suggest very hot and mostly sunny weather will continue for much of next week.

On Saturday afternoon, the highest temperature so far this year was recorded in Athens (27.8 degrees). Mount Dillon recorded 27.7 degrees today and 27.5 degrees at Phoenix Park.

Temperatures reached 27.5 degrees at Mount Dillon in County Roscommon on Friday afternoon, which had been the highest temperature of the year so far.

In Northern Ireland, the 27 degree mark was also crossed in Stormont, Belfast and Killowen in County Down, which recorded 27.6 degrees.

The previous record for the year was 25.6 degrees recorded at Phoenix Park in Dublin on June 13.

Gardaí noted “heavy traffic jams” at various beaches and beauty spots on the Co Mayo coast.

Gardaí said Old Head Beach, Roonah Pier, Silver Strand and Carramore should be avoided due to heavy traffic “because the parking lots are at full capacity”.

On the Wicklow coast, the beaches of Brittas Bay and Magheramore are also to be avoided “because the traffic is very slow” and the car parks are full, according to gardaí.

The Department of Agriculture has issued a “red condition” fire danger advisory. The advisory means there is a high risk of dry materials such as grass, heather and gorse are at fire risk.

It comes as Dublin firefighters continue to tackle a gorse fire on Howth Head, where they cleared a firebreak 30 meters from local homes,

The ministry’s notice warned that all outdoor use of fires, barbecues and other open sources of ignition should be avoided on forest lands and other high-risk areas until further notice.

The advisory, which is valid until Friday 23, continued: “Extreme caution is also advised with regard to haymaking and the use of machinery and other agricultural activities which may also present a risk of fire. in dry vegetation on types of cultivated land under current conditions. ”.

Dry sunday

Saturday will be a mostly sunny and very hot day, but clouds will persist near the northwestern coasts and there is a slight likelihood of an isolated downpour in the south this evening.

The highest temperatures will be between 24 and 28 degrees with light and variable winds.

Temperatures will only drop to 12 or 13 degrees overnight in Ulster and northern Connacht, remaining milder elsewhere with lows not falling below 14 degrees. Mist and fog will form again in light or variable northerly breezes.

Sunday will be another dry day with good sunny spells. However, there will be a little more cloud than on Saturday bringing the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm in the evening over the southern half of the country.

The highest temperatures will generally be between 23 and 27 degrees, but cooler in the northwest and along the eastern coasts with highs of 18 to 22 degrees in a light and variable breeze with some sea breezes also developing. .

It will be dry, warm and largely clear overnight Sunday with just isolated patches of fog forming overnight in light and variable breezes.

Monday will be dry in most areas with some very localized showers that could erupt over the south of the country.

The highest temperatures will be between 22 and 27 degrees, with cooler conditions near the north and east coasts due to light breezes from the east.

Clear sky

Monday evening will be another balmy night with mostly clear skies. Temperatures will not drop below 13 to 16 degrees in most areas.

Tuesday will be another predominantly dry and sunny day with light southeast or variable breezes. A few clouds will appear in the afternoon and one or two localized thunderstorms could appear in the evening with highs of 23 to 27 degrees.

Although it is very hot and sunny on Wednesday, the sun can get hazy at times and there is a slight chance that an isolated thunderstorm will break out in the evening.

The highest temperatures will be between 24 and 28 degrees generally in mainly light breezes from the southeast.

Most areas will see clear skies early Wednesday evening, but clouds will increase from the southwest, with a risk of light rain or drizzle in the morning.

It will remain very hot and humid overnight with temperatures not dropping below 15 degrees in general, parts of the west might not drop below 17 or 18 degrees in light breezes from the southeast to east .

There will be more clouds on Thursday, but it will be mostly high clouds making the sun more hazy than the previous days. The highest temperatures will be between 22 and 26 degrees in light to moderate breezes from the southeast.

Nighttime temperatures will remain very high and most areas will not drop below teens.