With weather temperatures set to rise, warnings regarding sunburn and animal welfare are being issued to the Cork public.

Over the next few days, the heat is supposed to soar to between 24 and 27 degrees, remaining muggy and warm when the rain does arrive at the weekend.

According to Met Éireann, tomorrow is going to be a dry, sunny day with some possible thundery showers and little wind.

ISPCA inspector Lisa O’Donovan said that there are a couple of basic things to be mindful of over the upcoming days when it comes to pets and livestock and water is the first thing she talked about.

“All animals need access to water, not just dogs and cats, but horses, farm animals, wildlife. The other thing to be aware of is that water in the water bowl can become warm so it is best to keep changing it.” 

As well as this Ms O’Donovan said that guinea pigs and hamsters need their water bottles changed twice daily as it goes warm quickly.

“These are little things that we don’t think of,” Lisa said.

Shade and shelter are another key provision that animals need during the hot weather.

“It can be a table and chairs or some hedges but all animals need a cool place to rest.” A pet hate for Lisa is people leaving their dogs in cars.

“Don’t leave your dog unattended in the car. Some people leave their dog in the car with windows down and the dog on a harness and sometimes the dog jumps out the window and hangs themselves or gets stolen.” Finally, Lisa said walking dogs in the really hot sunshine is not a good idea.

“The dog might want to go for a walk but in the middle of the day, between 12-3, if it is really hot, they can’t cope with it.” Ms O’Donovan recommended walking your dog early in the morning or late in the evening.

Dogs are not the only one at risk from harm during the warm weather with The Irish Cancer Society urging the public to take measures to protect their skin.

The organisation is also asking people to take precautions, even if there is cloud cover.

According to the ICS, repeated sunburn has been directly linked to skin cancer, with cases in Ireland rising year on year. Almost 12,000 Irish people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year.

Cancer Prevention Manager with the Irish Cancer Society Kevin O’Hagan said, “During hot weather, and when UV levels are high, we need to be extremely cautious about our skin’s exposure to the sun. Repeated sunburn before the age of 35 can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer in later life.” The organisation offered a number of tips for people to stay safe in the sun, including seek shade when the UV rays are strongest (11-3pm), cover up with long sleeves and a hat, wear sunscreen and sunglasses.

“Whether it’s sunny or cloudy, everyone should protect their skin this summer. It is vital that people take precautions to reduce their risk of sun damage and check their skin regularly for changes.” 

After the current warm temperatures, more settled weather is to follow on Friday with temperatures dropping over the weekend as winds turn westerly bringing fresher conditions, but also the possibility of heavy or thundery showers.

Saturday is thought to be a mix of scattered showers and some sunny spells with some of the showers turning heavy or even thundery.

Sunday will not be as warm as the previous days as southwest to westerly breezes increasing moderate to fresh. Top temperatures will drop to around 17 to 20 degrees and there will be scattered showers with good sunny spells.