Ireland to see hottest day of the year with 24C highs while mercury to hit 29C in UK

Moore Park in Cork sizzled in 22.2 degree heat yesterday with Oak Park in Carlow being the next hottest area at 21.7 degrees, Met Eireann data shows.

Cork Airport also basked in the rays, with 20.3 degree highs recorded there.

So far this year, the highest temperatures were recorded at Newport Furnace in Mayo where the mercury hit 23.1 degrees on May 30.

Today will see further dry and warm weather in most areas, with sunny spells, especially in the east and south.

However, it will be cloudy in Atlantic coastal areas, with a little patchy drizzle possible near coasts with isolated mist or fog patches also along south coasts.

A Met Eireann forecaster revealed: "More persistent rain and drizzle will develop along west and northwest coasts later. Maximum temperatures 19 to 24 degrees generally, but cooler in Atlantic coastal counties, with maxima of 15 to 19 degrees. Winds mostly light to moderate southwesterly, fresh to strong on northwest coasts."

Unfortunately, it won't last long with "changeable" weather in the week ahead. Met Eireann revealed we can expect some rain at times, but overall a good deal of dry weather before it turns cooler from midweek.

And the UK is also soaking up the sun with scorching 29 degree highs expected today.

The Met Office said that the hottest temperature recorded on Saturday was 24.8 degrees at Kew Gardens in London, with 24.6 degrees recorded at Heathrow and St James’s Park as well.

Meteorologist Alex Burkill said that temperatures are expected to rise further on Sunday and could get as high as 29C.

If the mercury climbs above 28.3C it will make it the hottest day of 2021 in Britain so far as well as the hottest June 13 on record, he added.

The hottest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year was 28.3C (82.94F) in Northolt, north-west London, on June 2.