The weekend weather forecast indicates continuing warm and dry spells although temperatures will dip slightly in the west and north-west.

A Status Yellow High Temperature warning will come into effect at midday today, Friday July 17, for nine counties.

The counties affected are: Carlow; Kilkenny; Laois; Offaly; Wexford; Cork; Limerick; Tipperary; Waterford with maximum temperatures in excess of 27°C.

Potential impacts include:

Water safety issues due to increased use of lakes, beaches and waterways;
Heat stress;
Forest fires;
Drought.

Meanwhile, in terms of the general forecast across the country, starting with today, Met Éireann has forecast another dry day with plenty of summer sunshine.

Mist patches will occur locally to begin and top temperatures will generally range from 24°C to 29°, warmest in southern counties.

Light to moderate northerly breezes will keep temperatures that bit lower in north-west areas with values of 17° to 22°.

It will be dry and mostly clear tonight with just light to moderate northerly breezes. Some mist patches will form locally.

It will be a little fresher than recent nights too, with lowest temperatures of 9° to 14°.

Weekend weather

It will stay dry and warm for most again tomorrow Saturday with no more than moderate northerly breezes.

Highest temperatures will range from 23° to 27° across the midlands, south, and east with long spells of summer sunshine.

It will be somewhat cooler and cloudier for north and north-west counties with highest temperatures of 17° to 22°.

Saturday night will be dry and mostly clear. Patches of mist and fog will set in locally though.

It should be fresher than recent nights with lowest temperatures of 9° to 13° in a light to moderate northerly breeze.

Sunday will be dry with hazy sunshine and light northerly breezes.

It will be warmest over Leinster and Munster with top temperatures of 21° to 25°.

A little cooler and cloudier at times across Connacht and Ulster with top temperatures of 16° to 21°, with best values away from coasts.

Outlook for early next week

Monday to Wednesday will continue largely dry with moderate north-west breezes.

Rather cloudy and damp at times for Connacht and Ulster with highs of 16° to 22°; again best values away from coasts.

Warmer for Munster and Leinster with a mix of cloud and sunshine and highs of 21° to 25°.