West Bears the Brunt of Heavy Rain

Rainfall has been the dominant weather feature across Ireland this past week, with total accumulations well above average for most of the country.

The west saw the heaviest downpours, with Knock Airport in Co. Mayo recording a substantial 44.9mm of rain—214% of the seasonal norm. In contrast, southern counties experienced rainfall closer to average levels, with Roches Point, Co. Cork logging the lowest total at 15mm, still slightly above normal at 104%.

Looking ahead, the unsettled pattern is set to continue, driven by persistent Atlantic systems bringing further spells of rain and scattered showers. Forecasts indicate that rainfall accumulations will remain well above average, particularly in western regions, where totals could reach up to three times the seasonal norm. The eastern and southern parts of the country are also expected to receive higher than normal rainfall, albeit to a lesser extent.

According to Met Éireann, drying conditions are expected to be poor overall, with only limited windows on Friday and Monday offering brief opportunities for drying and spraying. Field conditions are deteriorating, especially in the north and west, where soil moisture deficits (SMDs) are low and waterlogging is becoming more widespread. In contrast, soils in the south and southeast remain trafficable, though growth restrictions are evident due to higher SMDs.

Temperatures, while generally near or slightly above average over the past week, are expected to dip slightly in the coming days. Soil temperatures remain above normal and are expected to hold steady, supporting some crop and pasture growth despite the wet conditions.

Sunshine has also been in short supply. The southwest recorded the least sunshine, with just 21.6 hours at Valentia, Co. Kerry (54% of average), while the most sunshine was recorded at Casement Aerodrome in Dublin with 37.8 hours (93% of average). The coming week will see continued cloud cover with limited sunny spells, likely keeping sunshine levels below normal.