LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago

A STATUS YELLOW high temperature warning issued for 13 counties has come into effect and will expire at 7am on Sunday.

Met Éireann has warned that daytime temperatures of over 27 degrees, and nighttime temperatures of over 15 degrees, may cause uncomfortable sleeping conditions, heat stress, forest fires and water safety issues.

The warning covers counties Carlow, Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford.

The national forecaster said the hot temperatures seen in Ireland this week will become more widespread over the weekend and into next week, with warm and increasingly humid nights expected.

It said the dry and sunny conditions are being caused by a ridge of high pressure which is currently over Ireland. By the weekend, the high pressure is expected to shift to the north of Ireland, making the sun and heat more widespread.

Dry for most today with hazy sunny spells.🌞

Highs of 21 to 29 degrees generally, with mostly light northerly breezes.🌡️🍃

Cooler and cloudier though in the west and northwest with isolated showers, before brightening up later.🌤️ pic.twitter.com/nqH7HftLQh

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 10, 2026

Today is expected to be “very warm or hot” across much of the country, with highs of between 21 and 29 degrees, while Saturday and Sunday are also expected to be dry and sunny with temperatures reaching the high 20s.

Saturday will be dry and sunny with the odd shower. Highest daytime temperatures of 29 degrees and highest nighttime temperatures of 21 degrees are expected. 

It will be a dry and sunny day Sunday, though cloudier at times in the north. Highest temperatures of 22 to 29 degrees are expected, coolest on the East Coast.

Sunday night will be dry and largely clear. Met Éireann has said it will be “very mild and muggy” with temperatures not falling below 13 to 19 degrees.

The forecaster has extended a nationwide weather advisory until Friday of next, warning that the prolonged spell of hot weather is expected to last longer than initially forecast.

Forecasters say daytime temperatures will “widely exceed 25 degrees”, with values climbing into the high 20s and possibly the low 30s in some areas by the middle of next week.

The advisory warns of potential impacts including heat stress, dehydration, uncomfortable sleeping conditions, wildfire risk and increased water safety concerns as more people head to beaches, lakes and rivers.

The forecaster is also warning that UV levels will be high to very high over the coming days, with the possibility of thundery showers developing later next week before temperatures return closer to average towards next weekend.

Ireland’s heatwave comes as much of Europe continues to endure extreme temperatures.

Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece have all faced heat alerts in recent days, while authorities in southern Spain are battling a deadly wildfire in Andalusia that has claimed at least 12 lives.

Recurring heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of global warming.

Unsure of what exactly is happening with the earth’s climate? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.