Cracker of a day! Carlow was the hottest county in Ireland on Tuesday

This week has seen the return of the glorious sunshine and temperatures that are steadily rising in what may become a heatwave, according to experts.

Tuesday saw the hottest temperatures that are to be expected this week and Carlow has come out the winner of Ireland's hottest county with Oak Park hitting a swealtering 28.1 degrees celcius.

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Carlow weatherman Alan O'Reilly posted the county ranking on his social media on Tuesday evening with Carlow hitting the top spot and Mount Dillon in Roscommon following closely behind with a sizzling 28 degrees.

In the last spot was Johnstown Castle in Wexford with a very respectable 22.3 degrees.

The good weather is set to continue this week however Met Éireann has issued a thunderstorm warning for Clare, Kerry and Limerick with localised flooding, lightning damage, and difficult travelling conditions possible in some areas. The warning is in place from 3pm today until 9pm tonight.

For Carlow and Leinster, the week looks set to be warm and humid with plenty of dry weather, though some showery interludes at times.

Today

Warm and humid today with sunny spells after early mist and fog patches. Showers may develop in parts in the afternoon and evening with some thunderstorms possible. Highest temperatures of 21 to 27 degrees with light to moderate southerly breezes.

Tonight will be humid with clear spells but cloud will build too bringing some showers which could be heavy or thundery. Very mild with temperatures not falling below 13 to 18 degrees, in light to moderate southwesterly breezes.

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Thursday

Tomorrow will bring a good deal of cloud and some scattered showers which could be heavy. Some bright or sunny spells too with better sunshine developing through the afternoon and evening as it becomes mainly dry. Highest temperatures of 21 to 25 degrees in light westerly or variable breezes.

Mostly dry overnight as winds fall light and variable, allowing areas of mist and fog to form. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees.

Friday

Sunny spells and dry, apart from a few isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 19 to 26 degrees with light to moderate northeasterly or variable breezes.

Saturday

Saturday will start mainly dry with sunny spells. During the afternoon, some showers are likely to develop in the southwest, which could turn heavy or possibly thundery, with the showers edging further northwards over the country in the evening and overnight. Highest temperatures of 20 to 26 degrees in moderate easterly breezes, and very mild and muggy overnight.

Sunday

Sunday will bring sunny spells and scattered showers which could turn heavy or thundery during the afternoon and evening, and will continue in parts overnight. High's on Sunday 19 to 26 , warmest in the midlands and west, in moderate east to southeast breezes.

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Monday

Monday will also bring sunny spells and some showers to parts which could be heavy or thundery. Temperatures in the low to mid 20's, a little cooler along the east and south coast, with onshore breezes.