Belfast weather is set to stay hot on Thursday, with temperatures in Northern Ireland expected to reach 27C or 28C before easing slightly towards the weekend. The warm spell continues across the region, with the hottest conditions expected inland and cooler air holding on nearer the coast.
County Fermanagh and Tyrone
The Met Office said the highest temperatures were expected mostly in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone. People there were facing the warmest part of the forecast, while coastal areas were expected to stay in the 20-23C range.
That coastal band still sits above average for the time of year. It gives the week a split pattern: hotter inland conditions on Thursday, but less intense temperatures along Belfast Lough and other coastal stretches.
Heatwave in Northern Ireland
The weather remained part of a heatwave in Northern Ireland, and the forecast pointed to at least three consecutive days at the same weather station meeting the heat threshold. That is the standard used in the forecast to classify a heatwave locally.
Towards the weekend, temperatures were expected to drop slightly to the low 20s inland, while the weather was expected to remain dry. For people planning time outdoors, the main change is that Thursday looks hottest inland, then the heat eases a little without a sharp break in the dry spell.
In the Republic of Ireland
Until Friday morning, Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow heat warning in the Republic of Ireland. The warm stretch there also coincided with a six-week hosepipe ban for six areas around the country.
For readers in Northern Ireland, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Thursday is the peak day in the forecast, Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone are most exposed to the highest temperatures, and the coast should stay cooler but still warm.
