Dublin records double usual sunshine hours

Over the past week, Dublin has been Ireland’s sunniest spot, recording more than twice its usual sunshine for this time of year.

Dublin Airport logged 87.9 hours of sunshine—an impressive 204% of the seasonal average.

In contrast, the southwest saw the least sunshine. Valentia in Kerry recorded 62.3 hours, still above average at 152%.

According to Met Éireann, the week was mostly dry across the country, with rainfall ranging from 0 to 7.4 mm—just 0 to 41% of the average levels.

Donegal was an exception, with 13.6 mm of rainfall recorded, amounting to 85% of its average.

Looking ahead, Met Éireann’s farming forecast warns that plant growth will likely slow further, as soil moisture deficits are expected to rise to between 40 and 60 mm, peaking in Munster.

Change on the way a week from now

The current dry spell of weather will continue until next Wednesday, after which a gradual return to less settled and cooler conditions will take hold.

In the meantime, Ireland will continue to experience abundant sunshine and temperatures reaching the low to mid-twenties.

The highest temperatures will be recorded in the west and northwest, while it will stay a few degrees cooler in southern and eastern coastal counties due to a light easterly breeze.

While some isolated, scattered showers are likely in places on Sunday, the next 5 to 6 days will be completely dry.

A change will arrive next Thursday and Friday when an Atlantic system brings scattered outbreaks of rain across Ireland from the west.