Ireland could see hottest day on record today and tomorrow

Be careful out there, lads.

The past few days has seen some very warm weather hit our shores, but Met Éireann has warned that temperatures may hit an all-time record today and tomorrow. Yesterday, the forecaster issued their first Orange alert for Cavan, Monaghan, south Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath. A status yellow heat warning has been applied to the rest of the country for the remainder of the week. This week may see record highs with temperatures in the region of 30 degrees predicted for tomorrow. Met Éireann's Emer Flood said: "Daytime temperatures will widely rise higher than 25 degrees, reaching around 29 to 30 degrees in the midlands, especially on Wednesday and Thursday. And the nights will be very warm and humid also, particularly midweek where temperatures will remain well into the high teens throughout much of the night." The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland occurred in Kilkenny Castle on 29 June 1887, when the mercury reached 33.3 degrees. Since then, the highest temperature ever recorded was 32.5 degrees in Co. Offaly on 29 June 1976. Met Éireann has said that this current dry spell is likely to break over the weekend with some scattered showers. The HSE has reiterated the importance of safety in the sun, and has advised the public to keep an eye on vulnerable people. They warned that heatwaves can cause "significant increases in mortality", particularly in older people, young children and vulnerable groups. The current advice is to keep cool, stay hydrated, protect your skin and to know when to seek medical care. The State's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan urged people to exercise caution as they enjoy the warm weather. He said people should, "regularly and liberally apply sunscreen that has a sun protection factor of at least 30 plus for adults and 50 plus for children, wear light and loose-fitting clothing that covers your skin, wear a hat and sunglasses. Keep yourself cool and hydrated."