Sun returns to Northern Ireland but weather set to change

While England experienced the hottest day of the last two years on Monday, the weather in Northern Ireland was a lot fresher – yet still warm and sunny.

The mercury hit 33.9C in Cambridge, while Killowen in Co Down had some of the hottest weather in NI with 23C.

A Met Office meteorologist said: “It feels very different in Northern Ireland compared to parts of eastern England.

“The thunderstorm warning has also now expired and the risk of that has moved off to the east. There will be clearer skies in NI and a band of rain moving into Tuesday.”

A yellow warning for a thunderstorm had been put in place for Northern Ireland from midnight on Sunday night through to 7am on Monday, but effects appeared to be minimal.

It followed a ‘short but intense’ weekend of heat across the region, but more mini heatwaves are looking unlikely for the rest of the week with the current outlook, the official weather forecasters noted.

“We’re looking at a changeable pattern becoming established from the west; sunny spells and showers is the name of the game, with temperatures around average for the time of the year. It will be a typical sort of summer weather.”

Scotland, however, was hammered by thunder and lightning on Monday morning.

Tuesday will see a potentially cloudy start in Northern Ireland with outbreaks of rain. It should become brighter through the morning with sunny spells and just the odd light shower by the afternoon.

People in Northern Ireland should expect a breezy day with a maximum temperature of 21C.

On Wednesday, it is thought to be dry and sunny in the morning, but turning cloudy with outbreaks of rain later.

The opposite will happen on Thursday, with some rain in the morning and then a brightening up in the afternoon.

And on Friday it will be breezy with a few showers.

Warm European air caused temperatures to climb across much of the UK on Sunday, causing the warm weather on Monday, including a lot of humidity in parts of England.

Temperatures are expected to cool down through Tuesday and into Wednesday.

The hot weather is not considered a heatwave, the Met Office said, as temperatures need to exceed a specific threshold over three consecutive days in order to meet the criteria.

Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland, Met Eireann expects generally dry weather for the upcoming weekend, with some showers and temperatures reaching the mid to high teens.