Main PointsMet Éireann says daytime temperatures could top 30 degrees todayThe heat dome has pushed temperatures above 40 degrees in parts of western Europe this weekMet Éireann has issued a status yellow thunderstorm warning for Connacht and Donegal from 3pm on Thursday until 6pm on FridayFrance recorded its hottest day ever on Wednesday, surpassing a record set only the day beforeAre you Irish living in Europe? You can share your experiences of hot weather by using the form hereKey ReadsWhy is it so hot and when will Ireland’s ‘exceptionally warm weather’ end?From sunscreen to staying cool: how to keep yourself and your family safe in the heat‘Bathers should take care’: Swimmers advised to avoid some spots in Dublin due to rainfallIn pictures: Europe swelters in heat domeÓrla Ryan - 11 minutes agoWater conservation tipsPeople have been advised to use a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler when watering plants. File photo: Dirk Waem/AFP via Getty Images Uisce Éireann has issued water conservation tips for members of the public.Here are some ways you can conserve water as the hot spell continues:Drop the hose: Use a rose-head watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler; aim for the roots; water plants early or late in the day to limit evaporationTake short showers instead of a bath: Reducing your shower time can save up to 10 litres of water per minute - a typical bath uses 80 litres Turn off the tap: Not running water while brushing your teeth or shaving can save up to six litres a minute; keep a jug of water in the fridge for drinksFill up your appliances: Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they have a full load More conservation tips can be read here.Órla Ryan - 25 minutes agoSoldiers died at the Curragh during heatwave 139 years agoIreland is bracing for the hottest day of 2026, possibly smashing an almost 140-year record.The highest temperature ever recorded in the Republic was in Kilkenny in 1887 when the dial reached 33.3 degrees.While we wait to see if that record is broken, let’s take a look at some of our coverage from 139 years ago.A report from The Irish Times on July 4th, 1887 said soldiers at the Curragh in Co Kildare died from sunstroke. Report from our heatwave 140 years ago (this one is from July 4th) of soldiers dying from sunstroke at the Curragh “For want of rain every kind of crop appears to have its growth arrested,” the article noted.“Hay and oats are extremely stunted, and as for pasture it seems to have disappeared from all but the low-lying districts. Cattle are half-mad from the scarcity of water.“At the Camp the soldiers, too, suffer dreadfully in weather like this.”Órla Ryan - 45 minutes agoThunderstorm warning issued for Connacht and DonegalMet Éireann has issued a status yellow thunderstorm warning for Connacht and Donegal.⚠️Yellow Thunderstorm issued for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo ⛈️Thunderstorms developing today, overnight, & into Fri with the risk of torrential downpours & localised flooding.Valid: 1500 Tue 25/06/26 to 1800 Fri 26/06/26➡️ https://t.co/GYji547FKt pic.twitter.com/Kf0SE1GLeb— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) June 25, 2026