Cool it - the temperature is going to drop this week

While the citizens of the south-east claim it's always cool for cats, Kilkenny was actually the hottest place in the State yesterday, reaching 23 degrees.

However, it will not win the prize for the summer's top hot spot. That distinction - at least so far - goes to Claremorris, Co Mayo, which recorded a temperature of 29.5 degrees last Friday.

Not only does this make Claremorris the hottest place so far this year, but also the hottest in the State this century, according to Met Éireann.

"I know the century is not yet three years old, but still, that's pretty hot," Met Éireann weatherman Mr Aidan Nulty said.

On the whole, despite some dull rainy weeks in July, this summer has knocked spots off previous years, Mr Nulty said. "Last year especially it was very dull and wet. In fact it was a total wash-out of a summer. This year has been far better."

However, for all the talk of global warming it's not yet time to throw caution and wellies to the wind and declare Ireland the new Crete. Temperatures this week are not going to reach last week's highs.

"It's not going to be as hot as it was. Temperatures could still get up to the mid-20s, but we won't see anything like last week's peaks of high 20s and there will probably even be a bit of rain," Mr Nulty said.

While it should stay fine in most places today, the north-west can expect rain overnight. Some scattered showers will move across the country tomorrow and, while some areas will escape the rain altogether, it will be cloudy.

The fine weather is set to return for Thursday and Friday. However, the weekend could see the traditional Irish summer.

"At the moment it does look like the weather might break at the weekend. Temperatures will be down and we can expect a bit more rain," Mr Nulty said.

The picture so far for next week looks a little uninspiring, with a general cooling off and more risk of rain.

"The early part of next week, up to next Tuesday anyway, is not going to be as dry as it has been. It's not going to be massively wet either. We're not expecting any great deluges, but it will be a bit cloudier and a bit damper."

This doesn't mean the summer is over, Mr Nulty said. However, Ireland is unlikely to suffer the extreme temperatures endured in continental Europe.

"When Ireland is hitting 29 degrees, in Paris it's getting up to 40. These extreme high temperatures can make their way to England, but would be unlikely to make it this far because the sea track is too long."

The sea track from France to Ireland was much longer, giving the air more time to cool down, he said.

"In general anyway we never get the high temperatures they get in England because we're more influenced by the Gulf Stream.

"It means they get warmer summers and cooler winters and things over here just don't change very much."