Ireland is set for a grim return to wet weather next week as rain looks set to move in and our heatwave finally comes to an end.
Forecasters are predicting a sweltering few days ahead with scorching temperatures and a Status Orange alert in place.
The warning is in force for Cavan, Monaghan, south Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath until 9am on Friday.
Meanwhile a Status Yellow High Temperature warning for the rest of Ireland is also in place.
And despite the extremely hot weather there is a chance there could be some thunder showers in parts of the north and west.
A forecaster said: "Mist and fog will clear this morning to leave a dry, hot and mostly sunny day though some patches of sea fog will linger throughout the day. Some high cloud will drift into the southwest, turning the sunshine hazier at times.
"High temperatures may spark off a few thundery showers across north Connacht and Ulster later in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees generally, a little less warm along the south and east coast in a light southeast breeze.
"Tonight will be uncomfortably warm and humid. Any remaining showers will die away early leaving a dry night with mostly clear skies in the east and northeast but high cloud building up elsewhere leading to muggy conditions. Temperatures staying above 17 to 20 degrees for much of the night. Light southeasterly or variable breezes will allow some mist and fog patches to develop.
"Tomorrow, Thursday, will be a hot and mostly dry day. Highest temperatures of 27 to 30 degrees generally, slightly lower along southern and eastern coasts, in light, occasionally moderate, southeasterly breezes. The best of the sunshine will be in the northeast with hazier sunshine elsewhere. Later in the afternoon, there is a chance of an isolated thundery showers breaking out over Ulster.
"A very warm and humid night with any remaining showers fizzling out early on, leaving a dry night with a mix of cloud and clear spells. Temperatures again staying above 17 to 20 degrees for much of the night. Light easterly breezes will allow some mist and fog patches to form.
"Another very day on Friday with highest temperatures of 25 to 29 degrees generally, again â\u0080" slightly lower along southern and eastern coasts, in light to moderate easterly breezes. Scattered showers will develop over the southern half of the country, possibly thundery at times, with more isolated showers further north in the best of the sunshine.
"Some uncertainty over the weekend but current indications suggest that Saturday will be less warm than previous days with highest temperatures ranging from 19 or 20 degrees in the east to 24 or 25 degrees in the west. There will be good sunny spells but well scattered showers will develop during the afternoon, mainly in the east and southeast where it will be cloudier. Winds will be mostly light to moderate northeasterly.
"A warm day on Sunday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Scattered showers will develop too. Highest temperatures of 22 to 25 degrees generally, a degree or two lower along northern and northwestern coasts, in moderate north to northwest breezes."
However next week will see the heatwave well and truly come to an end as temperatures fall back to normal, with some wet weather also in store.
A forecaster added: "Highest temperatures closer to average values for the time of year, ranging mostly between the high teens and low twenties. Becoming more unsettled with rain and showers."
