Northern Ireland weather: Thunderstorm warning after we experience hottest June day in 50 years

The warning comes after NI had its hottest June day in 50 years.

That currently stands at 31.3C and was set in Castlederg in Co Tyrone in July 2021, with similar temperatures expected on Thursday in western areas.

But the Met Office has now issued a warning for thunderstorms bringing heavy showers that may cause disruption in places on Friday.

Meanwhile, heatwave conditions for Northern Ireland were met on Wednesday after 25C was recorded for three days in a row – a threshold set by the Met Office, external.

Yesterday, in the Republic of Ireland, temperatures soared to 32C in Athenry in Co Galway.

A yellow heat warning is in place across the Republic of Ireland until 09:00 on Saturday.

The Met Office regional forecast says today (Friday) will be ‘hot again for many, but cooler in the far west’.

Today, will see ‘sunshine and showers but still be warm and humid’, the Met Office Northern Ireland says.

After a ‘rather cloudy morning with some showery, perhaps thundery, rain around’ it will become ‘brighter from the south through the afternoon but still some showers around’.

It will be ‘warm and humid’ with a ‘maximum temperature 27 °C’.

Tonight will see ‘any showers dying out and some evening sunshine expected, freshening southwesterly winds’.

There will be ‘clouding over with the risk of some showers later in the night’ and feel ‘quite muggy’ with a minimum temperature of 14 °C.

Tomorrow, Saturday, will bring ‘a cloudy start to the weekend with some showers and fresh winds’.

The ‘showers may turn heavy with some thunder in the afternoon and evening’.

There will be a maximum temperature 22 °C.

The weekend will remain ‘warm on Sunday and Monday but with a freshening breeze, plenty of bright weather but scattered showers’.

And it will be ‘dry and bright with lighter winds on Tuesday’.