Temperatures soar 4c above average in the past week

Met Éireann says the past week was warmer than normal with mean air temperatures ranging between 12.8 and 14.6 degrees, which is between 3 and 4.5 degrees above average.

Athenry in County Galway broke a 41-year-old record set in County Donegal in 1984 to register Ireland’s warmest ever April temperature on Wednesday.

The mercury level rose above 25c in other parts of Ireland on Wednesday, marking only the second occasion it has done so in April in recorded history. 25.9°C was registered Athenry, Galway, which beat the all-time April record set in Glenties, Donegal, by just 0.1°C.

Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin, saw the most sunshine, recording 59.1 hours over the past seven days, which is 155% of the average amount for this time of year.

The least amount of sunshine was recorded in Malin Head, Co. Donegal, at 36 hours or 92% of average for this time of year.

It was close to or wetter than average in much of Connacht and west Leinster over the past week however, with amounts generally between 85% and 126% of average.

It was drier than average elsewhere, with amounts between 27% and 79% of average.

In its latest farming forecast, Met Eireann says overall accumulations will be well below average for the coming week with rainfall amounts likely to range between 0 and 7mm.

Sunshine amounts are likely to be closer to normal for the coming week.