Met Éireann issue odd weather warning amid scorching 29C heat forecast

Met Éireann has issued a rare warning amid Ireland's current spell of hot and humid weather. 

Forecasts predict Friday this week will be the hottest day of the weather as temperatures peak at 29C but it's not all good news, especially for farmers.

While we have not reached heatwave conditions just yet, the warm spell looks set to continue into the weekend and has prompted Met Éireann into issuing a blight warning.

A potato blight warning alerts farmers and gardeners about hot and humid weather conditions which can advance the spread of potato blight, a fungal disease that can severely damage or destroy potato crops.

Humid weather allows blight spores to develop and infect nearby plants.

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Met Éireann's farming commentary forecast says: "A potato blight advisory is in effect: Weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will affect southwestern, western, northwestern and northern coastal counties at times from Wednesday 18th June to Monday 23rd June. "

The forecaster's wider outlook says "there will be long spells of summer sunshine with the chance of a stray shower" on Thursday, "becoming warm or very warm with top temperatures of 21 to 26 degrees, in light to moderate southeast breezes."

"Very mild and close tonight [Thursday]. While most areas will remain dry, localised heavy showers may occur with the chance of isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures will not fall below 13 to 16 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly breezes."

The forecast continues: "Friday will be very warm or hot. Overall dry with spells of high summer sunshine, however showers may break out locally, possibly heavy. Humid with top temperatures of 21 to 28 or 29 degrees, highest values in the midlands and north, all in mostly moderate southeast breezes.

"While warm sunshine is expected [on Saturday], a scattering of showers will occur too, some heavy and possibly thundery. Top temperatures of 19 to 25 degrees, warmest across the eastern half of the country, all in a light to moderate southwest wind.

"Fresher and breezier than recent days [on Sunday] with highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, best values further east. Some sunny spells but showery rain too, all with rather brisk westerly winds."

The Met Éireann outlook for early next week says: "Similar conditions will likely prevail with fresh westerly winds steering in a scattering of passing showers; sunshine at times in between."