Island of Ireland could see another temperature record for May

Temperatures across the island of Ireland are forecast to reach unprecedented levels on Tuesday, with Met Éireann predicting highs of 23C to 30C in many regions. This follows Monday’s record of 28.6C at Shannon Airport in Co Clare, marking the second consecutive day of extreme heat in the Republic. The previous May record for the island stood at 28.4C, recorded in Ardfert, Co Kerry, in 1997. Northern Ireland will see lower temperatures, with inland areas like Fermanagh reaching around 23C, while coastal regions stay near 15-16C. A yellow warning for high temperatures is in effect for Clare, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Offaly, and Tipperary from Tuesday at 12:00 BST until Wednesday at 18:00 BST. Meteorologist Gerry Murphy noted that while individual records cannot be directly linked to climate change, extreme weather events with long return periods—previously expected once in a century—are now occurring more frequently, such as once every 30 years. The UK also recorded its highest May temperature on Monday, with London reaching 34.8C. The heatwave is expected to bring dry, sunny conditions across most of the island, with the warmest areas concentrated in Munster and south Leinster. Met Éireann described the forecast as 'another warm or hot day.' The prolonged heat may also disrupt sleep, as sleep expert James Wilson advised adjusting to warmer environments early by closing blinds, ensuring ventilation, or relocating to cooler spaces. While Northern Ireland’s record for May remains 28.3C (set in Lisburn in 1922), the current heatwave underscores broader trends of rising temperatures linked to human-induced climate change. Global warming of 1.2C since the industrial era has increased the likelihood of such extreme weather, according to Murphy. The situation highlights the need for adaptive measures as heatwaves become more common.