Home consumption and retail sales have taken a hit over the past week due to soaring temperatures. But Met Éireann predicts cooler temperatures at the weekend.
According to the Irish Farmers’ Association, queens continue to be lifted in the north east and volumes are now available in retailers. Again, sales took a hit last week but cooler temperatures forecast should improve this. Crops are very dry due to the high temperatures and lack of moisture, hence the rain forecast for the weekend will be very welcome.
Many countries in Europe are reporting a reduction in the planted acreage for 2022. Lack of rainfall is becoming an increasing problem in mainland Europe.
In the UK, maincrop varieties are now starting to show the effect of the very high temperatures this week and soil moisture deficit levels are increasing by the day. High evaporation levels have reduced the amount of water available to the crop and programmes are rapidly falling behind.
Partial irrigation bans are reported in the Fens. Crops without irrigation are suffering badly and a high proportion of these are grown for the processing sector.
Weekend weather
Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, predicts dry weather on Friday with warm sunny spells developing. The highest temperatures forecast range from 18 to 22 degrees in light variable breezes. Rain will move into southwest on Friday night and very slowly push up across Leinster and Connacht overnight with some heavy bursts possible.
Saturday will be wet with showery rain overnight, mainly in the northwest and along the southeast.
Sunday will be breezy day with scattered showers most frequent in the northwest.