It's hot out there, folks.

Met Éireann has issued a status orange weather warning for six counties as temperatures continue to rise. Cavan, Monaghan, south Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath have all been issued the orange high temperatures warning, as temperatures of 30 degrees are expected in these areas today. The weather warning takes effect at 2pm today and will last until Friday. Met Éireann said: "Maximum temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in places and overnight temperatures dropping no lower than around 20 degrees." A status yellow warning was issued for the entire country this morning, and will also stay in place until Friday at 9am. Temperatures are expected to stay as high as between 17 and 20 degrees at night this week too. The forecaster said: "High temperatures continuing this week with hot conditions by day and staying very warm and humid at night. "Daytime maximum temperatures generally 27 to 30 degrees Celsius with overnight values not falling below 17 to 20 degrees." These warnings come after a weekend of heat and according to Aoife Kealy, a meteorologist from the forecaster, said that temperatures are set to stay like this until at least Thursday. Kealy told RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Monday that it is important to remember to stay safe in this type of heat as it can bring some real risks like heat exhaustion, stress and high UV levels. She added that in the current climate, Ireland is set to experience much warmer and drier weather over the coming years, as the effects of climate change are beginning to show over here. Temperatures reached as high as 29.5 degrees in Athenry on Saturday, which was recorded as the hottest day of the year so far.