Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow high temperature warning for several Irish counties as temperatures are set to surpass 27°C, with schools potentially facing closure if the mercury hits 30°C
Temperatures are expected to reach 30C in parts of Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday.(Image: PA)
It’s the question many of us wondered about as children – just how scorching does it need to be before we’re allowed to leave school early?
The straightforward answer is that Ireland has no official legal maximum temperature that automatically forces schools to shut their doors. However, should the mercury climb above 30°C for several days in a row and Met Éireann issue a Status Red warning, schools would be obliged to close.
If temperatures remain below 30°C and no weather warning has been issued, individual schools nationwide have the authority to close at their own discretion.
School closures due to extreme heat are practically unheard of in Ireland, but it’s a query some parents may be raising today following Met Éireann’s Status Yellow high temperature warning for Tuesday and Wednesday.
The alert was issued on Tuesday morning and covers counties Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly, remaining in effect from 12pm on Tuesday until 6pm on Wednesday, reports the Irish Mirror.
Temperatures in these areas are forecast to exceed 27°C, with warm nights also expected as the heat lingers around 15°C.
Met Éireann has highlighted the following as potential impacts: water safety issues due to increased use of lakes/beaches; forest fires a possibility; uncomfortable sleeping conditions and heat stress.
Children don’t perspire as much as adults, which makes it more difficult for them to regulate their body temperature. During warm weather, it’s crucial to ensure that babies and youngsters consume adequate fluids.
If the body fails to cool down within 30 minutes, heat exhaustion can escalate into heatstroke, which is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
Youngsters suffering from heat exhaustion typically appear fatigued, grumpy or out of sorts.
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