SUN DAY ROAST

Spell of superb weather comes to end with Status yellow alert

- BY PAT FLANAGAN

IRELAND basked in blazing sunshine yesterday but sadly the mini-heatwave went out with a bang last night with menacing thunderstorms.

Once again it is time to put away the sunblock and break out the brollies with plenty of rain and unsettled weather in the coming days.

Temperatures yesterday were in the high 20s in many parts but as the day progressed the sunshine became hazy and clouds began to build from the west, bringing to an end the dry spell which had lasted the best part of a week.

A Status Yellow thunderstorm warning was in operation for Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Connacht from 2pm yesterday as a weather front moved in from the Atlantic mixing with hot air over the country.

Met Eireann had warned of heavy, thundery downpours leading to lightning damage along with heavy downpours.

Ironically, a separate Status Yellow warning for high temperatures came into effect at around the same time for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Connacht.