A POPULAR Co Down tourist spot was forced to close its gates for several hours yesterday due to a huge influx of visitors as the north basked in temperatures of up to 28C.
Crawfordsburn Country Park closed its gates for several hours on Tuesday afternoon during the hottest day in two years.
The highest temperature of 28C was recorded in Castlederg, Co Tyrone.
Temperatures of 27C were recorded at several places, including Derry city and Portstewart.
Belfast saw highs of around 25C - the same as seaside resort Ballycastle in Co Antrim.
Temperatures remained at a muggy 19C overnight, despite some thundery showers forecast for last night.
Britain also sweltered on the hottest day of the year so far.
Temperatures reached 33.5C at Brize Norton yesterday afternoon, the Met Office said, making it hotter than Barcelona.
But the good weather was predicted not to last. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for severe thunderstorms, large hail and strong winds which could lead to flash flooding of homes, businesses and transport networks.
The forecaster said there was a risk of thunderstorms spreading across the north and into Britain late last night and into today.
