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Met Éireann's status yellow weather advisory warns that the mostly dry and warm weather will continue across Ireland for the rest of this week and through next week as well, exacerbating drought conditions.
Aside from occasional spots of drizzle on Friday and light showers at the weekend along north-western coasts, no rain is forecast for the foreseeable future and temperatures will remain high. Top values will range from 22°C to 26°C until Saturday and could hit 28°C again in the southeast on Sunday, though Atlantic coasts will become cooler around 20°C in light breezes.
Cloud cover will increase through Saturday, with hazy sunshine returning to most places on Sunday.
Management notes
The unusual weather conditions mean tillage farmers need to make decisions on harvesting dates, and oilseed rape dessication – Andy Doyle has advice on this. With many fields looking to be cleared earlier than planned and growing fodder demand from livestock farmers, opportunities are also opening for catch crops.
Adam Woods advises sucklers and beef farmers that even when the rain comes, grass growth will take time to get back to normal and some action is required now to manage demand later. Heat, dust and flies are also causing health issues to look out for.
On dairy farms, Aidan Brennan recommends prioritising water conservation and looks at alternative feeding options. Cash is drying up too, and tax bills for last year's higher incomes will rise, so a bit of accounting and a spending review is also advisable.
On top of grass and water issues, sheep farmers should also watch out for signs of heat stroke in working dogs – Darren Carty has advice on this and on mineral supplementation under the Sheep Welfare Scheme.
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