The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry feelin’ the heat
Kerry thermometers could hit 30 Celsius One of the hottest weeks in 40 years Warning to elderly to avoid extreme heat Farmers worried about prolonged dry spell TEMPERATURES COULD REACH 28 DEGREES IN INLAND PARTS OF THE COUNTY
IT’S been a summer of sunshine thus far, but this week has seen things ramp up a notch or two – and temperatures look set to soar still further in the coming days.
Met Éireann’s John Eagleton explained that temperatures in part of Kerry could hit 27, if not 28, degrees Celsius, with temperatures expected to be particularly high.
To put this in some kind of context, Valentia Observatory’s daily records go back almost 28,000 days to 1942; since then, temperatures have hit 27 degrees on just 27 occasions. It has only hit the 29-mark four times, twice in August 1955 and twice in July 1976. Other stations in Kerry have rarely recorded temperatures of 30 degrees or more; this last happened in July 2013. A yellow high-temperature warning is in place nationwide until Friday evening, and Kerry will not be left out in the cold.
“Because the winds are going southeast, you’ll probable hit 27 degrees in Kerry, if not on Wednesday, then certainly on Thursday or Friday,” Mr Eagleton said. “It’s going to be cooler on the coast, obviously but, say, inland in Killorglin and places, it may even hit 28 degrees. Saturday temperatures will drop, and on Sunday it looks like a cloudy day, and there could be bits of showery, thundery rain drifting up from the Bay of Biscay.”
While a trip to the beach is the first on many agendas, Kerry County Council’s Water Safety Development Officer Niall O’Sullivan said it is important for people to realise the dangers attached.
“You should always swim where there are lifeguards present. If this is not possible, ask locals or those who know the area if the water is safe to swim in,” Niall explained. “Stay away from rivers and lakes, stay within your depth, and don’t use inflatables as they can bring you further from the coast without you realising. Don’t stay in the water too long either.”
Niall also says that water isn’t the only danger with beaches and other precautions need to be taken when taking a day trip in the sun.
“A big problem at beaches is children going missing. What parents should do is write their phone number on children’s arms. Also, when they just arrive at the beach, take a picture of their child. If the child goes missing, showing that picture to the lifeguard helps them to find them more easily.”
He also warned parents to be wary of the dangers paddling pools pose to children.
The Council have 40 lifeguards out on coasts across the county. Also, older people and children are two groups that are most susceptible to the heat and Niall also urges them to stay indoors during very hot spells and to stay hydrated.
There has been some concern for farmers coming out of a dreadful winter, but while Kerry IFA Chairperson Pat O’Driscoll did express some worries, he said it was no time to be complaining about the weather.
“In certain parts of the county, grass growth has slowed,” he said. “Now, I must say we would take this weather over the bad weather we had. It’s hard to complain about this weather.
“But farmers are trying to build up reserves, and if we get a prolonged dry spell, you will see a drop in grass growth, it will affect silage and hay, and the implications carry on to next winter.”
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has also said an extreme fire risk in all areas with hazardous fuels. Outdoor use of fires, barbecues, and other open ignition sources should be avoided in high-risk areas.