Warm spell could break April heat record

It could be the warmest day of the year so far with temperatures forecast to rise to the mid-20s by the end of the afternoon.

It’s less than 24-hours since the current record was set – yesterday being the warmest day of 2025 as temperatures hit 22.2C in Derrylin in County Fermanagh.

Many across Northern Ireland are taking advantage of the sunshine and blue skies by heading to well known walking and beauty spots.

Wednesday could also see the record broken for the hottest April day recorded. The current record stands at 24.5C recorded at Boom Hall in County Londonderry on 26 April 1984.

Meanwhile the RNLI is reminding anyone entering the water to take extra care and avoid unnecessary risks as early season conditions are more challenging.

Derek Rea from the lifeboat station in Larne said: “Although the outside temperature is really nice and warm, the sea temperature at the minute is still below 10 degrees so if you are going into the water be very cautious about the period of time that you’re in it.”

“Go into the sea, come out and run up and down the beach, enjoy yourselves and go back in again,” he added.

Derek said despite the nice weather low sea temperatures could cause cold water shock.

“If you get into trouble and feel yourself cramping up or anything, what we recommend is you go into the float-to-live approach.

“Put your arms out, tilt your head back to open your airway, have the water covering your ears and your body will naturally come up to the surface.”

Responding to a question by John Blair MLA on Wednesday, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said that “rising temperatures caused by climate change has been recognised as a public health concern”.

He cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) which states “climate change presents a threat to public health and is impacting health in a myriad of ways, including by leading to death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms and floods, the disruption of food systems, increases in zoonoses and food-, water- and vector-borne diseases, and mental health issues”.