IT’S MELTDOWN! WE’VE NO SHORTS LEFT
Sweltering weather is confusing the tourists
WIPE the sweat from your brow and grab another box of tissues, because it’s about to get even hotter – with temperatures set to climb above a sweltering 30C today.
In keeping with today’s scorching temperatures, there will be bright sunny conditions nationwide, with tonight predicted to be another balmy evening and lowest temperatures in the mid-teens overnight.
The welcome weather will persist, with tomorrow set to be another hot day filled with sunshine and high temperatures.
Friday is likely to be similar, albeit with slightly cloudier conditions – although temperatures will reach 30C on both days in some parts of the country. Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly said it was likely that temperatures had already reached record-breaking highs in some areas.
‘For individual stations, it’s likely that we have already broken records,’ she said.
‘The overall highest temperature for Ireland hasn’t been broken and I’m not sure it will be yet.
‘There’s something of a break in sight, but not until the weekend,’ she added.
The high pressure is likely to ease towards the weekend, resulting in changeable conditions across Saturday and Sunday and early next week, bringing showers with it.
It’s bad news for those suffering the ill effects of hay fever however, as the pollen count looks set to soar over the next few days.
Businesses around the country have reported a surge in custom as a result of the uncharacteristic Irish weather.
John Burke, owner of the Armada Hotel on the seafront in Spanish Point, Co. Clare, said that the good weather had allowed hotel guests to experience a ‘real kind of beachside holiday experience’.
He added that an influx of customers from Limerick and Ennis, coupled with those from further afield staying in the area had led to a ‘massive surge in business’.
Meanwhile, foreign tourists are enjoying the less-than-typical weather and making the most of their time outside.
‘They’re completely shocked with the weather they are getting,’ Mr Burke explained.
‘They seem to be way more relaxed and easygoing – way more content with their experience in Ireland. They are coming in later from the beaches in their swimming togs and flip flops,’ he said.
Meanwhile, on the seafront in Clontarf, north Dublin, co-owner of Happy Out café, Brian Hanratty, said that an increase in people on the beach, coupled with the sale of one new popular product, had seen sales increase.
‘Ice coffees – we started doing them and they are flying out,’ he commented.
Meanwhile, retailers nationwide reported light summery clothes and flip-flops flying off the shelves.
A spokesperson for Penneys confirmed that sales of sunglasses had doubled since the good weather began last week, while there had been a massive increase in sales of ladies’ shorts and sandals.
Assistant manager at Elverys Ennis, James O’Callaghan said that the shop had completely sold out of shorts.
‘We don’t have any shorts left. People are kind of realising how
little summerwear they have and are coming out to buy the likes of string vests and shorts, swimwear.
‘Sliders and sandals are absolutely flying out. Anything summery, any of the light stuff is just really, really selling,’ he added.
Meanwhile, in Wexford, Hore’s Stores is also experiencing rapid sales in sunwear.
‘With the weather like it is, it’s shorts, polo shirts and short sleeve shirts – that’s pretty much it in a nutshell,’ menswear manager Declan Hore explained. He added that while children’s wear was always popular at this time of the year, there had been ‘a bit of a lift in it’ because of the good weather.
But the warm weather has brought its own issues, as Irish Water warned that implementing water restrictions in the Greater Dublin Area would ‘become unavoidable’ given the current level of demand. The group said that areas around the country were already under pressure and that the hot conditions had exacerbated the situation. Areas in Athlone, Kilkenny, Longford and north Dublin have already had outages while areas in Donegal and Mullingar were at high risk of doing so too.