LAST UPDATE | 10 mins ago

THE HOT SPELL gripping the entire country is set to continue for at least several more days, with temperatures expected to reach 30 degrees on Wednesday as forecasters warn of heat stress, wildfire risks and possible thunderstorms.

Met Éireann said today will be warm and sunny across the country, with temperatures ranging from 23 to 29 degrees. The warmest conditions are expected in the west, while eastern coastal areas will remain slightly cooler due to an easterly breeze.

There’s currently a Status Yellow high temperature warning in place for six counties (Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Clare and Mayo). The warning will be in effect until 7am Wednesday.

Tonight will remain unusually warm, with overnight temperatures only falling to between 13 and 19 degrees.

Wednesday is expected to be even hotter, with another high temperature warning kicking in from 7am. It will cover all of Connacht and Munster, as well as counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan and Donegal.

Highs of between 24 and 30 degrees are expected.

While Wednesday morning will be largely dry and sunny, scattered heavy showers are expected to develop across parts of Munster and Connacht later in the day, with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms.

The settled conditions are forecast to continue for the remainder of the week, with temperatures generally staying between 24 and 29 degrees before easing slightly over the weekend.

The warning says temperatures above 27 degrees, combined with overnight lows remaining above 15 degrees, could lead to uncomfortable sleeping conditions, heat stress, drought, forest fires and increased water safety risks as more people head to beaches, lakes and rivers.

A nationwide weather advisory also remains in place until Friday, with Met Éireann warning that temperatures will continue to widely exceed 25 degrees in many areas and that UV levels will remain high to very high.

Hosepipe ban

The prolonged dry spell is also placing increasing pressure on water supplies.

Uisce Éireann is due to introduce a six-week hosepipe ban from midnight on Thursday covering Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, south Tipperary and parts of coastal Wexford.

The utility said water demand in the Greater Dublin Area has risen by around 20% during the recent warm weather, with usage reaching almost 700 million litres on some days.

Customers in the affected areas will be prohibited from using hoses for activities such as watering gardens, washing cars or cleaning driveways, as Uisce Éireann attempts to protect drinking water supplies.

Nighttime water restrictions also remain in place in around 40 locations nationwide, with the utility urging households across the country to conserve water while the hot weather continues.

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