Northern Ireland weather: Temperatures to rise to at least 27°C this week drawing in 'exceptionally high temperatures from continental Europe'

Met Office spokesperson Natalia Wells said ‘the highest temperatures in Northern Ireland are expected to be seen on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week’

She added that ‘Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be very warm with a maximum temperature of 25°C on Tuesday, while Thursday could perhaps be very hot and reach 27°C’.

This news comes as Natalia also explains that ‘the pollen count will be very high for Northern Ireland today and the remainder of the week until Friday’.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that ‘we are developing a southerly air flow this week which is drawing in the exceptionally high temperatures from continental Europe’.

Natalia adds that ‘while Northern Ireland won’t see the peak of this heat, there should be plenty of dry and fine weather on Thursday in particular’.

The Met Office Northern Ireland says that today (Monday 22 June) ‘will be a cloudier day, perhaps with the odd shower, but it should brighten up later with some warm sunshine, at least in the west’.

There will be a maximum temperature 23 °C.

Tonight will have ‘some late sunshine for most then a dry night with some clear spells’.

Tuesday will be a ‘dry day with some good sunny spells in the morning before cloud builds up for a time’.

Forecasters say it will be ‘very warm’ with a ‘maximum temperature 25 °C’.

And the outlook for Wednesday to Friday is a ‘dry and very warm few days with some sunny spells, and perhaps very hot on Thursday’ with ‘perhaps some thundery showers later on Thursday and on Friday’.

The news comes as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) asks road users to exercise caution on the roads as Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for high temperatures.

The Yellow High Temperature Warning for Ireland runs from 12:00 on Tuesday to 9am on Friday, with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees, and possibly reaching 30 degrees on Thursday.

With clear sunny conditions and high temperatures forecast over the next number of days, the RSA is advising drivers to:

· Reduce the risk from sun glare by wearing sunglasses. Be aware of the dangers of sun glare when travelling east in the mornings and west later in the day.

· Be prepared and ensure you have adequate supplies of water. Any delays to journeys could result in road users being stuck in traffic for a period time in hot conditions. Children and pets are particularly at risk during these hot spells of weather.

· Ensure your windscreen is clear of grease or grime inside and out. Make sure you have plenty of window washer fluid to clear flies/insects and excess dust from the road when driving.

· Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists. Slow down and allow extra space when passing.

And their advice to pedestrians, people who cycle, e-scooter users and motorcyclists is:

· Beware of the dangers that sun glare can cause, especially when crossing the road and at junctions.

· Follow current health messaging around the use of sun block when out walking and cycling.

Summertime is the most dangerous time of the year on our roads.

In the summer, when there are no obvious dangers, and the weather is fine and days are brighter, we drop our guard.

There can be a spike in pedestrian, people who cycle and motorcyclist casualties over the summer months as the fine weather brings more people on to the roads. Drivers need to be on the lookout for them. Slow down and expect the unexpected.