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Joint warmest May day on record across island of Ireland

Barra Bestand
Claire Quinn,BBC News NI
News imageBBC Weather Watcher CountyDownCycling Castlewellan Peace Maze, green hedges in a maze pattern, with mountains visible in the background. It is a bright, sunny day with clear blue sky.BBC Weather Watcher CountyDownCycling
Northern Ireland experienced its warmest day of the year so far on Monday, with clear skies pictured above the Castlewellan Peace Maze

It has been the joint warmest May day on record across the island of Ireland, as temperatures climbed to 28.4C in Oak Park, County Carlow.

That matches the previous May record of 28.4C set in County Kerry in 1997.

Irish weather service Met Éireann is expecting similar temperatures on Tuesday with a chance of a new temperature record being set.

In Northern Ireland, temperatures have reached 25C in a number of locations in counties Armagh, Tyrone, Down, and Fermanagh.

It has been the warmest day of the year so far, and is 10C above average for the time of year.

The UK has recorded its all-time highest May temperature as part of London reached 34.8C on Monday.

That provisional figure, recorded in Kew Gardens, also surpassed the hottest bank holiday Monday on record - 33.3C on the August bank holiday in 2019.

The hottest May day in Wales has also been recorded, and Scotland has also seen its warmest day of the year so far.

The 104-year-old record for May in Northern Ireland is 28.3C, which was recorded in Lisburn on 31 May 1922.

In Northern Ireland, the warm weather will continue through the rest of the working week though temperatures will drop slightly and will be closer to the low 20s inland, and the high teens in coastal areas with onshore breezes.

UV levels will continue to be high.

News imageThree people - a man, woman and younger girl - stand close together on a sandy beach on a sunny day, posing for a photo. Behind them, other visitors sit and walk along the shoreline, with a low stone wall, grassy hillside, and houses partially visible. The sky is bright and clear.
News imageBBC Weather Watcher Pete’s Portal A body of water with a large concrete drain and tower in the middle. The mournes are pictured in the background, it is a clear sunny day.BBC Weather Watcher Pete’s Portal
The Carvalho family were enjoying the sun at Helen's Bay
BBC Weather Watcher Pete captured the scene at Spelga Dam in the Mourne Mountains

Many sun seekers in Northern Ireland regularly flock to the seaside town of Helen's Bay in County Down, and this Bank Holiday Monday was no exception.

The Carvalho family told BBC News NI the weather was a "surprise", so dad Freddy took a day off and they took a trip to the beach.

Meanwhile friends Claire Dummigan and Niamh Query brought with them a seaside picnic, including some non-alcoholic beverages.

"We try to get down on a regular basis, it's just such a beautiful part of the country," Niamh said.

"We're just so happy to be here on the beach and have this glorious weather."

Claire said she had plans to "jump in the sea very soon, have a lovely picnic and enjoy the sun while it's here".

She admitted getting into the sea is "hard" given the average Northern Ireland temperatures, but when you "come out you feel a million dollars – it just completely resets you".

Meanwhile, Kathryn Millar was enjoying the day at the beach looking after her grandchildren.

She said the warm weather was "unusual for Northern Ireland".

"It's just fabulous – three months of this would be great," she added.

"We're so lucky, really lucky, it's great... We'll stay here all day as long as the sun's shining, [we'll] sit and do absolutely nothing!"