Summer strikes back!
Bank holiday sunshine raises spirits
THE phenomenon of Leaving Cert weather seems to have been replaced by lockdown weather, as Ireland sizzled over the past few days and one expert warned we could be facing into a drought.
A high of 26.8C in Co. Roscommon yesterday made it the joint hottest day of the year, with the same temperature recorded there on Thursday.
People around the country took to beaches, parks and riverbanks to take advantage of the slight loosening in quarantine rules.
Swimming spots such as Sandycove and Seapoint in Dublin were very busy, while gardaí set up checkpoints in the Phoenix Park to ensure people were still adhering to the five-kilometre rule.
In Galway, Silverstrand and the Blackrock diving tower were closed by the council, although other areas were open to sun worshippers.
As the mercury hit 24C in the west and 20C to 21C in the east, the ISPCA warned animal lovers to ensure their pets had access to shade and water, while the public was warned not to swim in unfamiliar waters and to take special care of children in paddling pools.
Weather expert Alan O’Reilly, who runs the Carlow weather station from his back garden, said the run of fine weather this May was not unusual, but that taken together with an unusually dry April, it was unprecedented – and summer doesn’t even begin until June as far as meteorologists are concerned.
‘It’s been an unbelievably dry and sunny spring,’ he added.
Farmers have been contacting him, concerned about their crops, because if the dry spell continues there could be a drought and water shortages. But, he added, it’s not possible to predict more than a few days ahead.
Met Éireann is predicting another scorcher today with highs of 26C in the midlands and west, rising to 27C tomorrow, getting slightly cooler and breezier for the rest of the week.