Thousands of homes were left without power after thunderstorms struck parts of Ireland on Friday, as the country continued to experience sweltering conditions. The National Severe Weather & Flooding Coordination Group confirmed that while Friday will remain very warm, temperatures are expected to drop on Saturday.
Thunderstorm Warnings Across Ireland
Met Éireann issued a yellow-level thunderstorm warning for 16 counties, effective from Friday morning. The warning expires at 6pm for counties Clare, Tipperary, Kildare, Laois, Meath, Offaly, and Westmeath. For counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Longford, and the five counties in Connacht, the warning remains in place until 10pm. The UK Met Office also issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for all of Northern Ireland from 10am to 10pm, warning of possible disruption.
Met Éireann warned of localised flooding, hail damage, difficult driving conditions, and very gusty winds, along with potential damage to power, water, gas, and telecommunication utilities.
Power Outages and Lightning Strikes
ESB Networks reported that as of 11am on Friday, approximately 8,000 customers were without power due to lightning strikes. The outages affected multiple areas, with crews working to restore electricity.
Record Heat and Heatwave Conditions
Temperatures in the Republic of Ireland exceeded 31°C on Thursday, but the all-time record of 33.3°C was not surpassed. Provisional local records were set at Athenry (31.7°C), Mace Head (30.4°C), Claremorris (30.7°C), and Knock Airport (29°C). The continued high temperatures mean parts of Ireland may meet the official definition of a heatwave, experiencing five consecutive summer days above 25°C.
The highest temperature ever recorded in the Republic of Ireland was 33.3°C at Kilkenny Castle on June 26, 1887. Northern Ireland's record is 31.3°C, set on July 21, 2021, at Castlederg, County Tyrone.
Safety Advice for the Public
Authorities advise people to stay in the shade, use sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day. They also urge people to check on others who may be affected by the heat.
A status yellow high temperature warning has been in place since Tuesday and has been extended until 9am on Saturday by Met Éireann.
