Derry heatwave for Maritime Festival on Thursday followed by thundery weekend
The Foyle Maritime Festival is set to enjoy one of the hottest days of the year on Thursday before conditions break down into a wet and thundery weekend.
The Met Office forecasts a mainly dry, bright Thursday with hazy sunshine and very warm or hot temperatures, reaching 27°C. Light winds and possible sea breezes are expected, though occasional thicker cloud may bring an isolated shower later.
Met Éireann also highlights the heat, describing Thursday as “a hot and humid day across the country”, with early drizzle in the northwest giving way to widespread sunshine. However, they warn of a chance of thunderstorms later, especially in the west and northwest, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 31°C.
For those with hayfever be careful as Thursday is to have a high daily level of pollen.
Both forecasters agree that Friday through Sunday will turn unsettled, with rain and thunderstorms becoming more widespread.
Friday will see showers or longer spells of rain, heavy and thundery at times. Temperatures up to 19°C, dipping to 15°C overnight. Met Éireann notes that “heavy and possibly thundery showers are likely to persist in the northwest for much of Friday.”
Further outbreaks of rain during Saturday with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C.
Brighter spells returning on Sunday, though still with scattered showers. Temperatures around 18°C, falling to 12°C overnight.
“Fairly changeable conditions at first with periods of rain and showers, and there could be some thundery outbreaks at times. Perhaps a drier start to July for many, although the northwest may still see some rain at times, and perhaps accompanied by some strong winds,” said the Met Office.