Temperatures in excess of 30 degrees are expected in inland areas of Galway today, as the heatwave peaks in Ireland.
Monday is set to be the hottest day of the year so far, Met Eireann has said, with a status yellow weather warning for high temperatures in place until midnight.
The hottest temperatures of the day will occur in the early afternoon, with the mercury rising as high as 31 degrees inland.
Out on the Connemara coast, things will be a more manageable 20 to 23 degrees, but Galway City is also due to get hit with 30 degree plus temperatures.
Fortunately, there will be a precipitous drop in the heat levels by Tuesday, with temperatures dropping back down to the low to mid 20s, or even to the high teens in some coastal areas.
Farmers are being advised to take steps to protect their livestock during the heatwave, with a strong need for shade, water, and constant monitoring.
“While the recent good weather is welcomed by the farming community across the country, we must remember that high temperatures can cause significant stress for livestock,” Minister Charlie McConalogue said.
“It is important that farmers consider the extra steps needed to take care of their animals in these circumstances, making them comfortable and avoiding serious health and welfare problems arising due to the heat”.
Dog owners are also being urged to take care with their pets from heat stress, taking similar steps to ensure they have shade and water.
Conditions are far worse in Britain and Europe, as the UK braces for temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees in southern England.
Across southern Europe, mass evacuations of thousands of people have been required as wildfires rage in multiple countries.
