Get ready to sweat: Today could be the hottest day ever recorded in Ireland

Met Éireann forecaster Ailís Hankinson said: "This very warm and humid weather is set to continue as a nationwide yellow high-temperature warning remains in place up to Friday morning."

She suggested that temperatures will reach "31C [87.8F] or slightly above that" at the peak of the heatwave today.

"There is the potential for records to be broken on Thursday. The current max temperature record is 33.3C [91.9F], and that was recorded in Kilkenny on June 26 back in 1887.

"So, there is the potential for maybe 33C to be reached – possibly in Connacht, but more widely in the Midlands and in the West, we’ll see temperatures reaching up to 31C [87.8F], possibly 32C [89.6F]," she said.

And there will be no relief after sunset from the sweltering temperatures. Nights are expected to be "muggy" during the hot spell with nighttime temperatures of 20C (68F) in some areas.

But while we enjoy the balmy temperatures "there’s a chance of some thunderstorms breaking out in the northwest" today, according to Ms Hankinson.

"Now if those thunderstorms do break out with the extra cloud around, we may not see the temperatures getting quite as high, but it’s all dependent on those thunderstorms, when they break out.

"If they break out on Friday, then we’ll see temperatures starting to cool – not cold by any means – still up in the mid 20s but cooler than Thursday. And then at the weekend we’ll see it turning cooler back to the regular Atlantic-driven air," she said.

However, it shouldn’t mean the end of what has been a glorious early summer for Ireland.

"Current climate projections indicate that there will be increases in summer temperatures, heat waves, and temperature extremes over the coming years and decades," the forecaster said.

"So, it’s not impossible that we’ll see more dry and hot spells coming," she added.

The director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, Keith Leonard, warned people to be careful but enjoy the "glorious" hot spell.

"It’s very much needed after the winter, but it doesn’t have an equal effect on everybody. Some impacts, particularly for very elderly people and younger people… So we want people to check on elderly people who live alone. These weather conditions can be a real strain for older people."

He also warned about the risk of drowning as people go swimming in unguarded waterways.

"Our message this summer is really simple: if there’s no lifeguard, don’t get in. Swim where you can be seen. Lakes, reservoirs, disused quarries are much colder than the sea and often hide a lot of hazards and can trap swimmers.

"If you see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Don’t delay."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.