'Scorcher' - European heatwave heading for Ireland amid 30C weather forecast

Ireland could see temperatures hit 30C next weekend as the European heatwave gripping the continent heads our way.

Met Éireann's early forecast predicts 28C next Friday but other forecasts from Ireland's Weather Channel suggest temps could reach 30C next weekend

In a forecast on Sunday, Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel said: "This morning the ECMWF model has come into alignment with the GFS, that Ireland is about to experience its hottest spell of weather so far this year with summer like conditions developing through the second half of next week, peaking through next weekend.

"That’s according to this mornings model runs with temperatures by the middle of next week reaching into the mid 20s, while temperatures could well reach up to 30 degrees Celsius by next weekend, with some areas even a degree or so higher with light winds and sunshine expected widely," Cathal headed.

He tempered his forecast by saying: "It’s always worth mentioning a word of caution when analysing weather models more than five days in advance, so changes are possible. But there’s growing confidence that we are about to experience our hottest spell of weather since 2022, with some areas possibly experiencing heatwave conditions.

"The above map is the surface temperature anomaly through next weekend, showing how many degrees Celsius above average temperatures could be. In some cases maximum temperatures could be 8 degrees Celsius or more above the July average, with central, northern and western areas seeing the highest temps."

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Meanwhile, Met Éireann said that while there is "some uncertainty" there is potential for "widespread hot sunny weather to remain" over Ireland into next weekend.

They added: "The Azores High will build this week with warm and settled weather to come, becoming very warm or even hot from Thursday."

They say Monday will be "a dry day for most with rather warm spells of sunshine, cooler and cloudier today across west Connacht and Ulster with some light showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 23 degrees warmest across the southeast and east. Northwest winds will be mostly moderate, occasionally fresh in strength."

Monday night "will bring a little patchy rain or drizzle to western and northwestern fringes. Dry for most elsewhere with clear spells across southern and eastern counties. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees a in light to moderate northwest to west wind.

"Tuesday will be will be humid with patchy outbreaks of drizzle. Warm spells of sunshine will occur too though, especially across Munster and the south midlands. Highest temperatures of 17 to 24 degrees in no more than moderate west to northwest winds," their forecast continues.

"Patchy drizzle will affect west and northwest counties [Tuesday night] but otherwise dry under broken cloud. Mild with lowest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees in just light westerly breezes.

"Dry, apart from isolated light showers across western and northern areas [on Wednesday]. Generally cloudy though warm sunshine will break through across east and southeast areas; warmest in these areas too. Highest temperatures of 17 to 24 degrees, in just light westerly breezes.

"A dry day for most with warm spells of sunshine [on Thursday], though possibly staying cloudy across north and northwest areas with the chance of a few showers. Top temperatures of 21 to 26 degrees in just light southwest or variable breezes."

The Met Éireann forecast concludes that "a very warm or hot Continental airmass looks likely to feed up across Ireland with sunny conditions occurring widely [on Friday]. Top temperatures of 22 to 28 degrees generally in just light southerly breezes."