Another new weather record set as thermometer hits 31.4C in Armagh

Another new weather record has been set in Northern Ireland today after the thermometer hit 31.4C in Co Armagh.

Just days after Ballywatticock, near Newtownards, made the history books by recording the highest temperature in the north at 31.2C, the scorching heat was pipped yesterday in Castlederg, Co Tyrone at 31.3C.

That record was broken today in Armagh with the new high recorded at 3.20pm this afternoon.

It is the hottest day since records began in 1910.

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A tweet from the Met Office said: "Northern Ireland has once again provisionally broken its highest #temperature on record.

""Armagh reached 31.4 °C at 1520 this afternoon."

The Met Office had previously warned of temperatures above 30C across the north and issued an amber alert.

The alert is in place until 11.59pm to night.

The Met Office warning came with an appeal to watch out for heat exhaustion and sunburn. It warned that over the next few days many people could be at risk of sunburn or heat exhaustion, including dehydration, nausea and fatigue.

Road surfaces have also begun to deteriorate in the heat.

The Department for Infrastructure has said soaring temperatures has forced them to use gritter vehicles to spread fine dust onto roads in order to prevent heat damage.