Ireland weather: People sleeping with windows open at night urged to think twice
As Ireland's heatwave continues, experts have issued a warning for anyone sleeping with their windows open at night.
Sweltering conditions have gripped Ireland this week - and it's only going to get hotter. Met Eireann has warned temperatures could climb into the low 30s from Friday, with heatwave conditions expected to last well into next week.
A nationwide weather advisory remains in place until Tuesday, with the national forecaster warning: "A prolonged spell of very warm or hot weather will occur this week lasting into next week with heat wave conditions expected. Daytime maxima will widely exceed 25C with values climbing to the high 20s or even low 30s in places from Friday.
"The UV Index is expected to be high to very high. Warm and humid nights will occur with minima of 15C or higher. Possible tropical nights may occur in places this weekend. There is also the chance of some thunderstorms later this week."
A separate Status Yellow high temperature warning is also in force for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford until 7am on Sunday.
Met Eireann warned these counties can expect: "Maximum temperatures in excess of 27C combined with overnight temperature minimums in excess of 15C."
With the meteorological service repeatedly warning of warm, humid nights and uncomfortable sleeping conditions, many people have been leaving their bedroom windows wide open in a bid to stay cool.
However, experts say that could invite more than just a cool breeze into your home
Window specialists at My Home Improvements said the current combination of heat and humidity has created ideal conditions for insects, with open windows providing them with an easy way indoors.
They said: "With the weather turning both warm and wet, insects are becoming more active, and open windows at night create an easy entry point.
"We always recommend using window screens or restrictors to keep unwanted pests out - especially when lights are on and you're fast asleep.
"We understand people want to keep cool during nights, but with the current mix of humidity there's no question - bugs are on the move. If you're sleeping with your window wide open, you're also sleeping with your guard down."
Leaving windows open overnight can attract everything from spiders and moths to mosquitoes and midges.
Spiders often wander indoors looking for shelter, while moths are drawn towards bedroom lights and can end up circling lamps or settling on bedding and clothing.
Meanwhile, mosquitoes and midges thrive during warm, humid evenings. Once inside, they can buzz around bedrooms throughout the night and leave behind itchy bites.
There is one common myth, however, that the experts experts say people shouldn't worry about. While many have heard stories about spiders crawling into people's mouths while they sleep, they say the chances of this happening are extremely low, as spiders are usually put off by the vibrations and sounds made by sleeping humans.
Open windows can also make it harder to get a good night's sleep for other reasons.
They allow more outside noise into the home, from early morning birdsong and passing traffic to barking dogs and late-night revellers. They can also pose a security risk, particularly for people living in ground-floor apartments, flats and bungalows, where an open window may provide an easy opportunity for opportunistic burglars.
If you're looking to keep your bedroom cool without inviting unwanted visitors inside, experts recommend fitting magnetic or clip on insect screens, using window restrictors to allow ventilation without fully opening windows, switching off bedroom lights to reduce insect attraction, or airing the room before bed instead of leaving windows open all night.
Natural bug deterrents like peppermint or citronella sprayed around window frames may also help keep insects away while temperatures remain high.
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