Valentia tops the sunshine charts

With the exception of the northwest, Ireland has experienced a dry week.

The only significant rainfall was recorded in west Connacht, where totals ranged from 4.7mm to 10.2mm — equivalent to 24% to 62% of the usual amounts. Belmullet in County Mayo was the wettest spot.

According to Met Éireann, Valentia in County Kerry enjoyed the most sunshine, logging 70.7 hours over the past seven days — 182% of the average for this time of year.

The lowest sunshine total was in Gurteen, which recorded 31.3 hours.

Temperatures over the past week were warmer than normal, with mean air temperatures ranging from 12.1°C to 14.9°C, mildest in the southwest and west.

On the final day of April, Athenry in County Galway set a new record for the month, reaching 25.9°C.

The outlook for the next two weeks is largely dry, featuring a mix of sunshine and scattered cloud, with temperatures set to rise after Tuesday.

A high-pressure system will remain close to or over Ireland through mid-May, supporting an extended spell of settled weather.

Temperatures are expected to climb above seasonal norms, increasing from weekend highs of 11°C to 15°C to between 14°C and 19°C by midweek.