The unusual weather pattern affecting Western Europe is seeing hot, humid air from the continent now spreading further north to Ireland and Scotland.

There, the energy released by thunderstorms reaches levels that are extremely rare in these regions. Air that is so humid, high in energy and therefore "explosive" is unusual in the UK and Ireland.

The atmosphere will be particularly charged on Thursday and Friday. This could lead to violent thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain, hail, and severe gusts of wind. The risk of severe weather will then increase across Central Europe as the weekend approaches.