Ireland's heatwave intensified on Thursday as a six-week hosepipe ban came into force across six areas in the Republic and forecasters extended high-temperature alerts into the weekend, after authorities moved earlier this week to restrict water use and issue widespread advisories.
Met Éireann extended a Status Yellow high-temperature warning for nine counties into Friday evening, while 20 counties in the midlands, west and south remain under a similar advisory until Friday morning. Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford face an additional yellow alert from noon until 8pm on Friday. Thursday is expected to see the highest temperatures of 24°C to 30°C, warmest in the midlands and west.
In Northern Ireland, temperatures are expected to reach 27°C or 28°C in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone, with coastal areas in the 20–23°C range. Conditions will remain largely dry through next week, with highs easing to 21°C–25°C over the weekend before settling between 16°C and 25°C from Monday onward.