Temperatures in Ireland could reach 26C next week, say Met Éireann

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Temperatures in Ireland could reach 26C early next week, Met Éireann has forecast.

While temperatures are likely to stay in the low 20s over the weekend, they are expected to rise on Monday.

“Sun-smart and stay safe if heading to the coast and waterways” is the national meteorological service’s message.

There are also warnings of very high pollen levels, with high concentrations of grass pollen expected.

Spring 2026 was the third warmest since records began in 1900, in that time Ireland’s average temperature has increased by around 1.1C.

Records were broken, when temperatures of over 30C were recorded in Ireland in May for the first time and when Shannon Airport reported a high of 30.6C on May 26

Before this year, the May national record was 28.4C, which was set in Kerry on May 31 1997.

That was exceeded at a number of weather stations in late May with the mercury reaching over 29C in multiple areas including Killarney, Co Kerry, Clonmel, Co Tipperary and Glengarriff, Co Cork.

In the UK, an amber extreme heat warning has been issued for parts of southern England and Wales on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures potentially climbing up to or above 34C.

Areas in southern and eastern England are likely to meet the heatwave threshold during the weekend, and there is a 40% chance of exceeding the highest-ever temperature for June, which is 35.6C set in 1957 and 1976, the Met Office said.