Hot spell sees cars covered in dust as Saharan sand is blown to Ireland

The hot weather spell is bringing Saharan dust to the southwest of the country with many cars covered in a dusting overnight. 

Carlow Weather's Alan O'Reilly confirmed that he had received reports from the Southwest of the Saharan dust on cars and windows after showers overnight. 

"The dust will remain over us for the rest of the week but will only come down with showers," he said.

"If you look to the south you can see the system steering up the warmer air and carried with it is Saharan dust.

"Dust will move over Ireland over coming days but largely stay above us unless you catch a shower that brings it down to the surface," he forecast.

Met Éireann has forecast that today will be warm and dry for most with long spells of hazy sunshine.

However, there will be showers in the southwest and perhaps the west, with a low chance of thunder.

Highest temperatures of 22 to 26 degrees are forecast, warmest away from east and south coasts, in moderate easterly breezes, fresh on the south coast.