Temperatures hit high of 26 degrees in Carlow on Monday

Many places across the country recorded temperatures in the mid-20s on Monday as the warm weather stretched into a fourth day.

Oak Park in Co Carlow was warmest at 26 degrees, slightly below the highest temperature of the year, 26.8 degrees , recorded in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Saturday. Phoenix Park enjoyed 25.2 degrees on Monday.

Tom Murphy of Met Éireann’s climate division said the record temperature for the country is 33.3 degrees at Kilkenny Castle in June 1976.

“The temperatures we’re experiencing wouldn’t be a record but it’s very hot at the same time.”

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The hot weather in Dublin has brought many teenagers out to Spencer Dock in the city centre where the distinctive bridge with its circular viewing area has been turned into an unofficial diving pool.

Canal jumping has become popular in recent years in Dublin, helped by the arrival of cheap wet suits which keep out the cold and murky water.

The fine weather is set to continue but it will be markedly cooler in Dublin on Tuesday when a stiff easterly breeze will bring the temperatures down to 18 or 19 degrees. Inland temperatures will again reach highs of up to 25 or 26 degrees.

Wednesday will be another warm day with hazy sunshine and highest temperatures of 20 to 26 degrees. However, the heat and humidity will set off a number of heavy thundery showers during the day and these will continue to occur into the evening time as well.

Thursday will see a return to more normal temperatures and it will be a lot fresher than of late. Rain will set in and the weekend looks like it is going to be unsettled.

The continuing good weather coincides with National Water Safety Awareness Week. There were 123 drownings last year, more than ten a month, most of them concentrated during the summer season.