Thousands flock to beach on hottest day of year with mercury set to hit 25C again today

Sunseekers flocked to the beaches in their droves yesterday as the mercury hit a record high of 25.9C with the good weather expected to last most of the week.

An “Azores High” weather front will see the country continue to bask in the fine weather until at least Thursday.

Temperatures will linger around 22C or 23C in parts.

According to Met Éireann the top temperature was recorded at Shannon Airport where the mercury reached 26.2C – hotter than Hawaii.

It was closely followed by the weather station at Athenry, Co Galway, at 25.8C and Oak Park in Co Carlow which recorded a temperature of 25.5C.

However there wasn’t wall-to-wall sunshine around the country as the weather station at Malin Head in Co Donegal recorded a high of just 16.4C.

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far after temperatures climbed above 25C in many parts of the country.

By comparison, Los Angeles saw a temperatures hit 19C, as did Mexico city.

While Honolulu in Hawaii only managed 24C.

The sizzling temperatures saw revellers pour onto beaches and parks as they embraced the soaring July heat.

Beaches in Wexford, Dun Laoghaire, Waterford and Cork were packed with sunseekers.

While swimmers took a cooling dip by jumping into the Forty Foot in Sandycove, Dublin.

And in more good news forecasters said the balmy conditions will last much of the week.

Temperatures today will again climb to 25C in parts – with cloudier conditions from the northwest later bringing some patchy rain to west Connacht and west Ulster by the evening.

Tomorrow, temperatures will linger between 17C and 23C – warmest in the southeast.

Wednesday will see a mix of cloud and sunny spells with temperatures again getting up to 22C in parts, with the chance of a few light showers in northern counties.

Thursday will be mostly dry with long spells of sunshine and top temperatures of 22C.

Although there is the possibility of some showers at times in the northwest of the country

Met Éireann urged people to wear sunscreen – even in cloudy conditions – as UV levels are high at this time of year.

There will be a good deal of cloud across the country on Friday, with the chance of some light showers or drizzle in parts of the west and north. The best of the limited sunshine will be in the east and south. Top temperatures will ranging 19C to 24C, warmest in the east of the country.

"Current indications suggest the weekend will bring plenty of dry and warm weather. However, there is the chance of some rain or showers in parts of the west and northwest,” Met Éireann said.

Meanwhile, in the UK, temperatures are set to soar above a sweltering 32C tomorrow as the country basks in a heatwave.