Republic of Ireland officially in a heatwave with NI expected to follow

The Republic of Ireland is officially in a heatwave after temperatures climbed above 25C for five days in a row in County Carlow on Friday.

The weather station in Oak Park has risen into the high twenties every day this week since the heatwave began.

In Northern Ireland, temperatures have been recorded above 25C every day since Tuesday, but not at the same location.

According to the Met Office, the threshold temperature must be recorded at the same station for at least three days in-a-row for a heatwave to be declared.

However, that condition is likely to be met in the coming week with temperatures forecast to reach around the mid-20s until at least next Thursday.

So far, heat in excess of 25C or above has been recorded at Killowen in County Down on both Thursday and Friday, with a chance of heatwave status being reached on Saturday.

The focus of the heat however is set to switch to more western counties from Sunday as an easterly wind develops.

This means the east coast will be cooler than it has been this week, but with temperatures likely to remain a few degrees above average.

In the Republic, a heat warning is in place in 13 counties, stretching from the midlands to the south coast with Met Éireann expecting temperatures in excess of 27C.

Met Éireann say Moore Park in Cork also hit the 25C, five days in a row threshold, on Thursday.

The Irish weather service is also advising that a prolonged spell of very warm or hot weather will continue right through until the end of next week.