Main PointsA nationwide high temperature warning for the Republic has been extended into SaturdayAn orange thunderstorm warning was issued for Cork, Kerry and Waterford. It expired at 7pm.A separate status yellow thunderstorm warning for Connacht and Donegal is in effect until 6pm tomorrow. Further warnings were issued for tomorrow.A yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for Northern Ireland tomorrowThe highest temperature recorded in the Republic so far today is 31.7 degrees in Athenry, Co GalwayAre 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: Ireland swelters in heatKatie Mellett - 1 hour agoParis to ban drinking alcohol in public in bid to curb health issues arising from heatwaveParisians will be banned from drinking ‌alcohol in public from midday ​onwards on Friday in order to try and curb ​the health issues arising ⁠from the heatwave gripping France ‌and ‌much ​of Europe, the head of ⁠the Paris ​police said ​on Thursday.“I will ‌publish an edict ​this evening which will ⁠ban ⁠the consumption ​of alcohol in public from tomorrow midday onwards. As you know, drinking alcohol with the ‌sun beating ⁠down can have a devastating effect,” Paris ‌police chief Patrice Faure ​told BFM TV. - ReutersKatie Mellett - 2 hours agoThree hospitals in UK declare critical incidentsAt least three hospitals have declared critical incidents amid a rare red warning for extreme heat and record-breaking temperatures in the UK.Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, and Norfolk and Norwich University hospitals both declared critical incidents on Wednesday.University Hospital Southampton declared a critical incident on Thursday afternoon because of the ongoing extreme heat, “which is placing significant pressure on our services”, it said.It comes as a new record high temperature has been set for June on Thursday, for the second day in a row, as the UK swelters in a heatwave.Critical incidents can be declared when health and care services are so busy that special measures are needed to restore normal operations and keep patients safe. - PAKatie Mellett - 3 hours agoThursday is the warmest day of the year in Northern IrelandTemperatures have reached 36.7°C at Merryfield, Somerset, provisionally making it the hottest June day on record again for the UK🥵Wales has also seen its hottest June day with 35.9°C at Cardiff and Northern Ireland tied with 30.8°C at Castlederg 🌡️ pic.twitter.com/MUVoxTdclt— Met Office (@metoffice) June 25, 2026