Ireland summer scorcher as fine weather set to last due to 'Omega Block'
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Met Éireann chiefs have forecasted a spell of record-breaking sunshine, predicting it will "stick around for at least another week" and possibly throughout the entire summer.
Temperatures are expected to hit 25C again tomorrow, with Met Éireann indicating that the heatwave could last the whole summer, with June, July, and August set to experience "above average temperatures". Today's data from Met Éireann has shown that a third of its weather stations have already reported drought conditions this month, while a quarter are recording their warmest spring ever.
Over half the stations have seen the highest mean maximum temperatures for spring on record, and most have enjoyed more sunshine in the first fortnight of May this year than the entirety of May 2024. The weekend is looking hot with forecasts of 25C for both Saturday and Sunday, 23C on Monday, and the days following are expected to range from the "mid-teens to low 20s", as per the national meteorological service, reports the Irish Mirror.
Met Éireann's climatologist Paul Moore today shed light on the current sunny spell being due to the Omega Block weather pattern. The Omega Block occurs when the North Atlantic jet stream weakens, often after an early breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex following a cold winter.
Typically collapsing in mid-April, this year it disintegrated a week before St Patrick's Day.
Met Eireann's Moore has highlighted the long-term impact of a significant weather event, stating: "The influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months."
He further explained that this leads to "high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again" which for Ireland means "June, July, and August, has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures for Ireland during the summer months".
Paul noted the current sunny conditions, saying: "The current spell of fine weather is due to a blocking area of high pressure over and just to the north of Ireland. This particular type of blocking pattern is called an Omega Block because the jet stream makes a pattern that resembles the Greek letter omega."
He also mentioned: "It can be a stable blocking pattern which lasts for an extended period of time and is quite common on the eastern edges of the North Atlantic and North Pacific."
With the recent surge in temperatures, Irish Water has issued a call for water conservation to avoid further hosepipe bans.
A spokesperson shared with the Irish Mirror: "Uisce Eireann is appealing to everyone to be mindful of their use of water as the warm dry spell looks set to continue through the weekend and into next week. This appeal comes as 22 supplies around the country are officially in drought status."
Hosepipe bans loom as three counties – Donegal, Meath, and Westmeath – face Water Conservation Orders until June 16, while Galway's Inis Oirr island is already experiencing water restrictions.
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