Warnings of severe hail and spot flooding dampened more than spirits as motorists found themselves slowed down by slippery roads and poor visibility. 

Cork remained under a status yellow thunderstorm warning until 7pm, along with Clare, Limerick, and Kerry. 

The provisional May temperature record was broken this week, with Shannon Airport recording 30.5C on Tuesday, while the thermometers in Cork topped out at 28.4C in Moorepark.

Prior to this week, the previous May record of 28.4C was recorded at Ardfert, Co Kerry, on May, 31, 1997.

On Wednesday, the highest temperature was recorded at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry, which hit over 29C.

Thursday forecast

Met Éireann forecast some sunny spells in the north and east for Thursday with very warm and dry conditions. 

Other parts of the country will be cooler and duller with the forecast predicting patchy drizzle and mist. 

Highest temperatures of 17C-24C are expected with light to moderate south to southwest winds.

 Significant cloud in the north and west with patchy light rain and drizzle are being predicted with dry and long clear spells elsewhere. 

Temperatures will not fall below 9C-14C with moderate, occasionally fresh southwest to west winds, easing light from the south later

Friday is expected to be mostly dry. However, the country is bracing itself for a more unsettled bank holiday weekend.

The sunny weather offered a boost to the whole country with people flocking to beaches in their droves to soak up the soaring temperatures. 

This prompted warnings from Water Safety Ireland, which urged people to be aware of the dangers of cold water even in warm temperatures.

“With warmer weather drawing more people to our coast and inland waterways, Water Safety Ireland, the Irish Coast Guard, and the RNLI are urging everyone to stay vigilant,” it said. 

“Cold water remains a serious risk, even on sunny days. With warmer weather drawing more people to our coast and inland waterways, Water Safety Ireland, the Irish Coast Guard, and the RNLI are urging everyone to stay vigilant. Cold water remains a serious risk, even on sunny days.”

The warning was made as nine people died around the UK this week after getting into trouble in open water after days of record-breaking heat.

People ranging in age from 12 to their seventies died in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire in recent days.

'Impacts of climate crisis'

The UN climate chief has said an extreme early heat event sweeping parts of western Europe was “a brutal reminder of the spiralling impacts of the climate crisis”, after France and the UK set new temperature records for May on two consecutive days.

Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said on Wednesday the “main culprit” was humanity’s burning of coal, oil, and gas — known to be the primary driver of climate change.

“The science is clear that human-induced climate change is making these heatwaves more frequent and extreme,” Stiell said, as France, Spain, and the UK sweltered in temperatures usually associated with July or August.

“Protecting human lives, businesses, and economies from extreme heat and the many other soaring costs of climate change is core business for every nation, and it starts with kicking the fossil fuel addiction much faster.”

• Additional reporting by PA, Guardian