Mercury hit all-time April record of 25.8C in Athenry, Co Galway – matching Glenties, Co Donegal in 1984Leinster and Munster will still see temperatures of up to 24C tomorrow Fine weather to continue into next week
The last recorded instance of 25.8C in April was in 1984 in Glenties, Co Donegal.
Three counties experienced temperatures in excess of 25C today.
Newport in Co Mayo clocked 25.7C at 2.40pm, while Athenry, Co Galway hit 25.8C and Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon, reached 25.0C.
It was still 22-23 degrees in many counties at 7pm this evening.
Met Éireann had predicted that today’s temperatures could surpass the all-time April record of 25.8C.
Met Éireann forecaster Michelle Dillon said the good weather will remain “throughout the bank holiday weekend and out to the middle of next week”.
“It will be cooler by Friday and the weekend but the temperatures will still be above average. And we’ll have further spells of warm sunshine.”
Temperatures will range between 19 and 24C, while some places might reach 25C.
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The forecaster also said UV is the strongest between 11am and 3pm from April to September.
Deputy head of forecasting at Met Éireann, Liz Coleman, said: “The higher the UV index, the higher the risk of skin and eye damage.
“When the UV index is 3 or above, you need to protect your skin and eyes. Also, don’t assume that just because there is cloud that the sun’s rays are not damaging.
“Be prepared and plan ahead by checking the UV forecast.”
The HSE national cancer control programme (NCCP) has issued advice on protecting skin from damaging effects of exposure to UV radiation from the sun.
It has urged people to wear protective clothing, seek shade during the middle of the day and use sunscreen.
Dr Breeda Neville, specialist in public health medicine at NCCP, added that protection from the sun is “just as important here in Ireland as it is when holidaying abroad”.
“With the sunny weather forecast for this weekend, people will have more opportunity to get outside and enjoy the outdoors,” she said.
“From April to September, the sun’s UV rays are strong enough to damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer, even on cloudy days.”
Any showers and thunderstorms will ease and die away early tonight, leaving most places dry and clear, with temperatures dropping to 7 and 12C.
Cloud will thicken in the north-west, extending south-eastwards overnight.
Some patchy outbreaks of light rain and drizzle might affect parts of Connacht and Ulster, with mist and fog also expected to form tonight.
There will be a contrast in weather across the country tomorrow, with cooler conditions to the north and warmer conditions to the south.
In Connacht and Ulster, the morning will start out mostly cloudy with a patchy light rain and drizzle.
Shortly after, clear and sunnier conditions will spread from the north-west in the afternoon.
It will be much cooler in the north, with temperatures between 12 and 17C.
Most of Leinster and Munster will enjoy mostly sunny weather tomorrow morning, but it might be a bit cloudier in northern areas, with a possible drizzle.
The clouds will build further in the afternoon, with scattered showers breaking out, which might turn heavy and thundery, especially across southern counties.
Temperatures in these areas will range between 18 to 23C, with the warmest and sunniest weather furthest south.
The dominating high pressure is set to bring mostly settled conditions, with the rainfall below average, the forecaster added.
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