Met Éireann issues orange alert for Cork as thunderstorms threaten during heatwave

Cork has been placed under a Status Orange thunderstorm warning as temperatures across Munster are set to soar to as high as 31C today.

Met Éireann issued the alert for Cork from 2pm until 4pm, warning that widespread thunderstorms moving north from the south could bring severe lightning, hail, spot flooding and dangerous travelling conditions.

Motorists are being warned to take extra care due to the risk of slippy roads and poor visibility where heavy showers hit.

The orange warning comes as a wider status yellow thunderstorm alert remains in place for Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford until 7pm this evening.

Despite the risk of storms later in the day, much of Cork and the wider Munster region is expected to remain dry, sunny and extremely warm through the afternoon.

Met Éireann said Munster temperatures will range from 25C to 31C, although coastal parts of Cork may remain slightly cooler due to moderate easterly breezes.

Forecasters warned that while many areas may escape thunderstorms altogether, any storms that do develop could become severe, bringing lightning, hail and strong gusts.

The heatwave has already rewritten the record books this week, with Shannon Airport recording a provisional temperature of 30.5C on Tuesday — the highest May temperature ever recorded in Ireland.

A separate status yellow high-temperature warning remains in place for several counties, including Kerry and Limerick, until 6pm this evening.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Met Éireann meteorologist Gerry Murphy said today is likely to mark the end of the unusually hot spell.

“After today it will be back to a typical mix of Irish weather and not as warm,” he said.

Tonight, clear spells are expected initially, with the possibility of further isolated thunderstorms early in the evening. Cloud, mist, drizzle and patches of fog are then forecast to develop overnight, with temperatures staying mild at between 11C and 14C.