Northern Ireland has breached 27C-mark today - and news looks good as we approach the Twelfth
Northern Ireland continued to stride confidently towards heatwave territory today, with temperatures exceeding 27C.
It is the second day in a row that temperatures have exceeded the 25C threshold in the Province – and we could be in for another one tomorrow.
The Met Office defines at heatwave in Northern Ireland as three straight days above 25C.
The highest temperature recorded today, at time of writing, was 27.1C at Helen’s Bay in North Down at 1.24pm.
The runners-up were Armagh City and Stormont, which saw readings of 26.7C at both (at 1.39pm and 12.57pm, respectively), then Banagher in Co Londonderry where it reached 26.5C at 1.37pm.
On Tuesday, the Province’s top temperature had been 26.4C at Murlough in Co Down, and on Monday it had been 24.7C at Helen’s Bay.
The temperatures overnight from Tuesday into today had been balmy too.
Aldergrove in Co Antrim had the highest daily minimum temperature; there, thermometers never dipped below 14.7C (recorded at 3.34am yesterday).
Temperatures tomorrow are expected to reach 24C in general, the Met Office said, but some extremes could push NI over the 25C threshold for a third consecutive day.
It will likely be dry with sunny spells.
As for what the days ahead hold as we approach the Twelfth, forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “The forecast is very similar for the rest of the week, including Bank Holiday Monday.
“High pressure keeping it dry and settled with plenty of sunshine each day, with highs around 25C.
“Nights may see a little fog at times but will clear early each morning.
“Overnight temperatures will be around 14C to 18C.”