IRELAND HAD ITS hottest day since the 19th Century yesterday, as the heatwave that’s currently causing high temperatures across the continent led to records being smashed at several of the country’s weather stations.
The temperature didn’t quote manage to break the all-time record of 33.3°C recorded at Kilkenny Castle, but it sure got close.
Phoenix Park weather station, where the hottest temperature was recorded, had its maximum air temperature since data was first recorded in the early 1830s, reaching 33.1°C around 2:40 pm.
Yesterday was also the hottest July day ever recorded.
It saw the second-highest temperature ever recorded on the island of Ireland, just 0.3°C below the record set in 1887, beating the 20th century record (measured in Boora, Offaly in 1976 at 32.5°C) and the previous 21st century record (32.3°C in Elphin, Roscommon in 2006).
For context of how hot it is at the moment, the temperature in the Phoenix Park was 12.8 degrees above its long-term average.
The second-highest temperature recorded yesterday was only ten kilometres away at Casment Aerodrome, a military base in Baldonnel just south-west of Dublin city.
Its 31.9°C was its highest-ever recorded temperature, also beating what was previously the highest heat for Dublin, recorded there in 2006 at 31°C.
Elsewhere in the capital, Dublin Airport also broke its top heat records twice in recent days.
It’s previous highest temperature was in 1943 at 28.7°C, which was trumped on Sunday by 28.9°C. This was beaten again yesterday when 29.1°C was recorded.
The third-hottest temperature yesterday was recorded at Oak Park in Carlow at 31.6°C, followed by Mount Dillon in Roscommon at 31.4°C, which was the highest temperature ever recorded at the station.
The fifth-hottest area yesterday was Gurteen in Tipperary, which reached 31°C yesterday. It was followed by Shannon Airport in Clare at 30.8°C, which was just shy of its previous record of 32 degree, observed on 28 June.
30.8 degrees was reached in Ballyhaise in Cavan, its highest temperature ever.
Grange in Dunsany, Co Meath also reached 30.5°C yesterday, another local record-breaker.
Athenry in Co Galway observed 30.5°C, 11 degrees above its longterm average while a weather station in Mullingar, Co Westmeath observed 30.4°C, beating the previous Mullingar record.
Met Éireann has stated that the heat will continue today, particularly over the eastern half of the country with highs of 22 to 27°C while the weather will be cooler & fresher elsewhere with highs of 16-22°C.
The meteorlogical agency has also issued a Status Yellow Thurderstorm Warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford until 9pm.
The heatwave comes after Met Éireann established a new Climate Services Division to enhance the provision of climate services in Ireland.
Keith Lambkin, the head of the new Climate Services Division said it “will enhance the translation of past and projected climate data into usable actionable information, making it easier for Irish sectors to make long-lasting, climate-sensitive decisions”.
“As the population of Ireland increases, it is essential that we adapt to future temperature extremes.”
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