Heatwave conditions could trigger Red Weather Warning today

Met Éireann could issue an extremely rare Red Weather Warning today if temperatures burst through the 30 degrees Celsius barrier.

Currently a Yellow Warning is in operation but a Red status would mean those whose health is at risk, such as asthmatics or the elderly, would be advised to take action, like staying indoors.

Red Warnings in the past for Storm Ophelia in October and heavy snow in March forced employers to send home workers for their own safety.

Temperatures have already soared to 19 degrees in Galway at 7am this morning while weather stations near Kildare such as at Casement Aerodrome were registering 16 degrees and 70% humidity.

Met Eireann said: "Red level severe weather warnings should be a comparatively rare event and implies that recipients take action to protect themselves and/or their properties.

"This could be by moving their families out of the danger zone temporarily; by staying indoors; or by other specific actions aimed at mitigating the effects of the weather conditions."

All time high

And records could be smashed today as we edge closer to Ireland's all-time-high of 33.3C temperature in 1887.

Some inland areas such as Kildare could face temperatures of up to 32C today.

Coastal counties will be cooler due to sea breezes.

 Yesterday, the highest temperature was recorded at Shannon Airport (28C).

Warnings

The Department of Agriculture has already issued a Red Forest Fire Warning.

The Irish Asthma Society also issued a warning, with hayfever sufferers facing high record pollen level