MET Éireann has urged the Irish public to take care in the sunshine today amid the highest temperatures of the year so far.
The national forecaster has issued a Status Yellow heat warning for six counties in the south and west of Ireland, with highs of up to 28C expected in Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick this afternoon.
The warning – in place from 1pm until 7pm tonight – comes as mainland Europe sizzles in a record-breaking heatwave brought by huge plume of hot air from North Africa dubbed the "Saharan Bubble".
Temperatures of 19C were recorded in parts of Ireland at 6am this morning, according to meteorologists.
Urging people to take care in the sun today, a Met Éireann forecaster said: "Today will be a very warm day and the Solar UV index is very high, so do take care in the sunshine.
Today will be a very warm day in most areas with highest temperatures of 22 to 28°C. Along the east coast it will be cooler due to onshore winds. It will be another dry&sunny day but cloudier in the southwest with the risk of a heavy shower. The solar UV index is very high today. pic.twitter.com/ybcwCE6xRA
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) 27 June 2019
"It will be another dry and sunny day with the risk of isolated heavy or possibly thundery showers in the southwest.
"Top temperatures will reach of 22 to 28 degrees, warmest across Connacht and the mid-west, but a few degrees lower along eastern coastal fringes in moderate to fresh easterly onshore breezes".
As for this evening, Met Éireann added: "Tonight will be mostly dry with just the risk of an isolated shower in the southwest.
"It will be a mild and humid with lowest temperatures staying around 13 to 17 degrees in mainly moderate easterly breezes but fresh near coasts."
Tomorrow will be another scorcher with highs of up to 27C, but there is a risk of thundery showers in the west.
Those heavy showers will make their way eastwards on Saturday, as parts of the country enjoy highs of 25C.
