Roads ‘melt’ in sun as mercury hits 31C
Water restrictions in blace as country basks in heatwave
Twins Cian and Mark Walsh splash out to cool down at Loughrea Lake, Co Galway, yesterday as temperatures hotter around the country hit 31C – hot enough to melt the tarmac on many roads. Forecasters say it will get even before the end of the week as local authorities introduce water restrictions.
TEMPERATURES topped 30C in parts of the country yesterday – and all signs are that the heatwave will not be abating.
In fact, the mercury is set to rise even higher today and tomorrow, building on the 31C high recorded yesterday at Shannon Airport.
“The next two days, it is going to be as warm, if not warmer,” Met Éireann told the Irish Independent.
While breezes were keeping the east coast of the country relatively cooler, it reached 27.9C in the Phoenix Park in the capital.
Forecasts for today suggest highs of 30C, while tomorrow it could reach 32C in places, close to the hottest temperatures on record for the country. In 1887, temperatures reached 33.3C in Kilkenny. Irish holidaymakers in destinations such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria might have been disappointed to learn temperatures at home were higher than the resorts.
Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) had to battle several forest fires in the Dublin Mountains.
Among the areas where blazes broke out was the Lead Mines in the south of the county.
There was also a fire at Glendoo Mountain, which caused DFB to urge drivers to stay away from the area of Military Road.
The Department of Agriculture has issued a status red warning for forest fires. It said in a statement this status was the highest level and was rare in Ireland, and it replaced a status orange warning which had been in effect since last Thursday.
The warning was to indicate the dangerous possibility that fire could spread rapidly in these conditions once ignited.
“[It] may give rise to rapid and unpredictable wildfire development and spread, particularly in dead grasses, and low-moisture shrub fuels like gorse and heather.”
People who own forest lands have been advised to implement fire prevention plans, and to be prepared for the likelihood of fire outbreaks on or around their property.
Farmers were also advised to exercise caution in relation to the use of machinery around
hay meadows.
Yesterday Met Éireann said a status yellow warning remained in place for heat, advising people to take all the necessary precautions, such as using sun cream and staying hydrated.
“We won’t be upgrading to a status red or a status orange.
“Obviously people should use common sense when out in the sun.” The status yellow warning would remain in place until Friday, a spokeswoman said.
Irish Water yesterday urged people to conserve supplies.
There was particular concern in Co Longford, where water restrictions were put in place in some areas.
Bulk water containers were deployed to Granard Kill cemetery, where there were queues during the evening.
The amount of water in storage to serve the Greater Dublin Area is 20pc below target.
Some 160 days of water is available for extraction from the Poulaphouca Reservoir in Co Wicklow. There should be 200 days available at this time of year.
While demand has stabilised in the Greater Dublin Area, it is still “critically high” and putting enormous pressure on the system. The utility’s drought management team is meeting daily, and is monitoring water supplies and demand around the country. It said in many of its schemes, supply and demand was already under pressure.