TEMPERATURES ARE TO continue to rise this weekend, with Friday and Saturday set to get the most heat.

Met Éireann forecasts high 20s in most parts of the country, with some places to hit 30 degrees.

Nights will be humid, with temperatures likely to remain above 15 degrees.

The warm weather is caused by a ridge of high pressure over Ireland that came from an anticyclone over the Azores.

It is bringing dry, settled and sunny conditions to much of the country. However, conditions will stay cloudier in the north and west at first due to a slow-moving frontal zone lingering over the northwest.

From Friday, high pressure is expected to shift to the north of Ireland, with support from the upper air pattern. Met Éireann said this will allow temperatures to increase, and the sunshine to become more widespread.

Today, Wednesday, begins with isolated drizzle, along with patches of mist and fog in places.

However, sunnier skies will develop widely as low cloud burns away.

It’ll be another very warm day for the Midlands, South and East, with top temperatures of 23 to 29 degrees.

Elsewhere, temperature highs will range 18 to 24 degrees. Inland areas will be hottest, while coastal areas will be fresher.

Tomorrow, Thursday, will be similar, becoming hot again after a warm, humid night.

In most places, temepratures will reach highs of 18 to 25 degrees, but they could go as high as 28 degrees in the Midlands, South and East.

Friday and Saturday will be hot, particularly in the north of the country.

“Peak maxima” will occur in the west on Sunday, after a “tropical” Saturday night in places.

Shortage in water supplies

Uisce Eireann has asked households and businesses to save water as temperatures remain high.

In Dublin, water is being used faster than it can be replaced. ” Usage in the region has reached up to 680 million litres — about 40 million litres above the year-to-date average”, according to Uisce Eireann.

Tourist areas in counties like Wexford have also been affected with a high number of visitors. This has put pressure on the network and increased the risk of bursts.

Nighttime restrictions were implemented on 13 water supplies across the country. Areas affected by these measures include Kilkenny, Tipperary, Donegal, Cork and Meath.

Uisce Eireann also reminded the public that reservoir swimming should be avoided due to ”hazards that present serious risks” such as hidden currents and drops in depth.

Tips for saving water during the warm period included choosing showers over baths, running full washing loads and avoiding hose use.

“We know overnight restrictions can be inconvenient, especially for households and businesses trying to plan their day-to-day routines. These restrictions are only used where needed to protect local supplies and reduce the risk of more serious disruption later on’’ Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations said.