Irish summer weather back with rain on way

After two days of sweltering conditions, Ireland's weather resumes normal summer service today with the return of rain and the start of a slide in temperatures which should continue for the rest of the week.

The country again enjoyed the knock-on effects of Western Europe's heatwave yesterday, basking in warm, humid air from France and Spain. There should be a similar start to today, especially in the north and east. But it should be cloudy in the southwest from early morning, and showers sweeping in from the Atlantic last night herald rain for most of Ireland by this evening.

Temperatures, which reached a high of 25.5 degrees C in Clones, Co Monaghan, will be down to the high teens tomorrow, Midsummer Day. On Thursday the thermometer could reach as low as 13 degrees, C, and the cooler, wetter weather looks like continuing into the weekend.

A spokesman for Met Eireann said: "I'm afraid it's time to stow away the swimwear and sunglasses for a while; Ireland will be back to normal for a while, having benefited from being on the periphery of a heatwave which had brought temperatures into the mid-30s in France and Spain."

Ireland has also experienced humidity as high as 71 per cent in Dublin, and 87 per cent in Cork. The end of the "heavy" weather should at least make it easier for students sitting the last examinations of the Leaving Cert, which end on Friday.