Forecasters have warned “extreme thunderstorm activity” could develop over parts of Ireland, as the island also approaches record temperatures.

Ireland has been experiencing sweltering conditions as a plume of extremely hot air that brought temperatures in excess of 40C to Europe drifted towards the island this week.

The conditions led to Met Éireann issuing an orange-level thunderstorm warning for three counties.

Ireland’s national weather agency had already placed the entire country under a status yellow high temperature warning since noon on Tuesday and later extended the measure until 9am on Saturday.

Both Met Éireann and the UK Met Office have issued thunderstorm warnings which will mean the entire island will be under some form of weather advisory into Friday.

Temperatures in the Republic of Ireland exceeded 31C in some parts as a senior meteorologist said the all-time record of 33.3C would come close to being “challenged” – although this did not happen by 5pm.

However, Met Éireann said there were provisional local records set at Athenry (31.7C), Mace Head (30.4C), Claremorris (30.7C), and Knock Airport (29C).

The continued high temperatures mean parts of Ireland will possibly fall under the official definition of a heatwave by Friday, after experiencing five consecutive summer days above 25C.

An orange-level thunderstorm warning is in place for between 4pm and 7pm in Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

A separate yellow-level thunderstorm warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo applies between 3pm on Thursday and 9am on Friday.

Another yellow-level thunderstorm warning has been issued for between 9am and 6pm on Friday for 16 counties: Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Laois, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Westmeath.

Met Éireann warned of “torrential downpours” leading to flooding in places, lightning damage, “large hail”, hazardous driving conditions and very gusty winds.

It also said there could be damage to power, water, gas, and telecommunication utilities.

It said that if the necessary thunderstorm triggers of moisture, instability and a lifting mechanism are met, it is “likely that parts of the north-west and west will experience extreme thunderstorm activity” on Thursday, and other areas will have less severe activity on Friday.

A separate thunderstorm warning was announced for all of Northern Ireland.

The UK Met Office yellow warning will be in place from midnight until 10am on Friday

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