Further warning issued for high temperatures - Met Éireann
Met Éireann has issued an additional Status Yellow weather warning for high temperatures across most of the country in the coming days.
The warning will apply to Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Munster and Connacht.
The national forecaster said the alert will be valid from 12:00p.m on Wednesday (July 15) until 6:00a.m on Friday (July 17).
Met Éireann
A Status Yellow high temperature warning is currently in place for counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.
Maximum temperatures in excess of 27°C are expected, along with night-time temperatures over 15°.
The conditions will make sleeping uncomfortable and bring a risk of heat stress in people and animals, forest fires and drought.
There will also be potential water safety issues due to increased use of lakes, beaches and waterways.
Met Éireann also warned of a chance of heavy showers or isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday, but these will be localised if they do occur.
Fire risk
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued another 'Condition Orange' warning, indicating a high fire risk.
The warning came into effect at 2:00p.m yesterday and is due to remain in place until 12:00p.m on Friday (July 17).
The department said that arising from continued high temperature weather patterns a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.
"Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period but will be especially focussed on eastern regions.
"With soil moisture deficits increasing there is an added risk of underground peat fires on bogs where fires occur and an increased availability of larger fuel types across all land types.
"Fire behaviour may also be adversely affected by light to moderate easterly winds during the span of this notice," the department added.
The warning states that continued vigilance is advised in areas with open public access and high fire risk activities.
The department said landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána.
All forest owners and managers are being advised to prepare for likely outbreaks of fire.
Bog
A section of the M6 motorway was closed for a period of time yesterday due to a fire at Dumman bog in Miltownpass, Co. Westmeath.
Fire crews from Mullingar Fire Station and Kilbeggan Fire Station were called to the blaze yesterday morning
Due to very poor visibility caused by the fire, Westmeath County Council said that a section of the M6 motorway between Junction 2 (Kinnegad) and Junction 3 (Rochfortbridge) was closed in both directions.
All traffic was diverted via the R446. Motorists were advised to avoid the area, allow extra travel time, drive with caution, and follow all diversion signage in place.
Meanwhile Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service crews remain in attendance at the scene of a significant forest fire in the Milltownpass area, near to the M6 motorway
The M6 motorway is currently open to traffic.
However large areas continue to smoulder and crews are in attendance again today (July 14) carrying out dampening-down operations and monitoring for any potential flare-ups.
Crews from Mullingar Fire Station also remain at the scene as these operations continue.
Motorists have been encouraged to remain aware of ongoing emergency service activity in the area and to follow any traffic management measures that may be in place.
