Sunny days to continue as risk of thunderstorms grows

Ireland has not seen the back of the warm sunshine just yet and while thunderstorms are anticipated in more northern parts of the country on Monday and Tuesday, they are likely to be isolated and “nothing to get excited about”, according to the experts.

Met Eireann has issued a second highest weather warning, an orange alert, for rainfall and “intense thunderstorms” for the midlands, west and northwest areas on Sunday.

The warning, which is in place until midday on Monday, said slippy conditions on the road, poor visibilty and local floods would lead to treacherous driving conditions.

However, there is good news.

John Eagleton of Met Éireann told the Irish Times that the unseasonably warm and sunny weather experienced across Ireland over the last 10 days is set to continue until next weekend when normal service looks set to resume.

“It is going to be warm right through the week” Mr Eagleton said.

“We expect highest daytime temperatures to be around 23 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, and they could climb even higher on Wednesday.”

The forecaster said after Wednesday temperatures would most likely start to fall and by the weekend they should return to the typical range for this time of year of between 16 and 18 degrees.

“I think it is likely that things will get a bit more unstable as the week progresses and we are likely to see more thunderstorms, particularly in the northern part of the country and in some parts of the midlands, “ Mr Eagleton said.

But, he said, the showers would be “isolated” with some parts of the country likely to be unaffected.