Orange-level fire alert as Met Eireann weather forecasts dry week for Dublin

As Ireland is set to bask in glorious sunshine with temperatures to remain high, an orange-level fire alert has been put in place until Friday.

Met Eireann has predicted a largely dry and sunny week ahead, although temperatures will nose dive during the nights leading to some mist and fog.

A forecaster said: “The fine settled weather will continue for the coming week with lots of sunny spells and only the odd shower.

Read more: Met Eireann weather forecast more warm days for Dublin but temperature swing will bring big change

“Easterly winds persisting but easing a little for the next few days. Some cool nights with a risk of fog and light frost.”

However, an orange-level high fire warning has been put in place for Ireland until midday on Friday.

Issued by the Department of Agriculture, it states that a fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where “hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist”.

The Department said the alert has been issued due to current weather patterns.

They said: “Arising from current weather patterns a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.

“The current low-pressure system located to the south of Ireland will gradually give way to high pressure centred over Ireland as the week progresses. Continued largely dry weather will continue to influence flammability of fuels until at least Friday of this week.

“Fire behaviour and rates of spread are likely to be influenced by light wind speeds and higher temperatures as the week progresses. While lower windspeeds are forecast, humidity levels below 50% RH may influence more difficult fire behaviour in many areas.”

The Department says the following actions should be taken by visitors in the interests of safety:

• Do not light fires in and around forests or open land
• Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances
• Gather all family or group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire
• Telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location
• Evacuate if instructed to do so and cooperate with all emergency service instructions

For more information about the warning, visit the Government’s website here.

Here is the weather forecast for the coming days.

Monday night

Tonight will also be mostly dry with clear spells and some isolated showers. It will be a cold night with temperatures dropping to 3 or 4 degrees with mist and fog patches developing.

Tuesday

Tomorrow will see plenty of sunny spells with dry weather although isolated showers will feed in from the Irish Sea at times. The highest temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees have been predicted.

Here is what the national outlook says about the rest of the week:

Tuesday night

“Another mainly dry night with clear spells and just one or two lingering showers. Quite cool with lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in a light easterly breeze. A few patches of mist and fog will develop overnight.

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