A status yellow, high temperature warning has been issued across Ireland as temperatures were set to climb to over 86F (30C) on Tuesday. In fact, the weather has been so good that a BBC weatherman asked that Stormont decree the hottest day of the year national holiday.

Like the rest of the country temperatures in Northern Ireland have been on the up since before the weekend. With Ireland having so few hot summer spells, weatherman Barra Best made an appeal to the Northern Irish government to officially name July 19 a national holiday, for one day only.

In Pictures - North continues to sizzle in #heatwave https://t.co/uhBbqEvxhL #hottestdayoftheyear #scorchio pic.twitter.com/lyBpsV6QGj

— The Irish News (@irish_news) July 19, 2016
Sadly, the temperatures will start to drop on Tuesday evening when thunderstorms, some of them violent, are predicted. Weather forecaster, Louise Heraghty from Met Éireann (Ireland’s meteorological services) said temperatures will drop by up to 50F (10C) by Wednesday.

However, until then there’s a yellow weather warning in place. Heraghty said "We are certainly looking at temperatures of 28C or 29C in the midlands for Tuesday and perhaps a few degrees higher than that.”

We don't see this very often! Clear skies across the UK with some cloud lingering for #Scotland #hottestdayoftheyear pic.twitter.com/DrT80YwWBa

— Met Office (@metoffice) July 19, 201
The hot spell, which saw Ireland have one of the best weekends of warm weather so far this year, has seen thousands of people headed to the beaches around the country. Around the country 132 beaches are staffed with lifeguards however, the Coast Guard also appealed to sun bathers to treat all waterways with respect.

Did someone say HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR!? Nice one Ireland!#98fmBigBreakfast pic.twitter.com/86LvOXbG9X

— 98FM (@98FM) July 19, 2016
Having basked in the warm weather from Europe for the past few days Ireland will now be receiving an influx of air moving up from France, which according to Ian Carruthers from Irish Weather Online is “highly unstable” and will mean thunderstorms.

He told the Irish Independent “These factors suggest super-cells are possible. Even with their isolated nature, likely threats will be gusts of up to 120kmph, large hail and even a tornado."

Most of the thunderstorms are predicted for late Tuesday afternoon.

Carruthers said “Not everyone will see thunderstorm activity but where it does occur it will be severe at times.”

Yes the weather in Ireland caused this to happen to my phone pic.twitter.com/iW3VVwPyn4

— John Hegarty (@hegarty89) July 19, 2016
Thundershowers will give way to milder and humid conditions overnight. Looking ahead to towards the weekend Ireland will see outbreaks of rain spreading east on Thursday with dry spells on Friday. More persistent rain is expected on Saturday, clearing later in the day.

Related: Weather