Roches Point Records No Rain in Past Week

Cork has emerged as one of the driest and warmest parts of Ireland over the past week, with Roches Point recording no rainfall, making it the driest station in the country during an otherwise relatively dry spell nationwide.

According to Met Éireann data, rainfall totals were below average across the board last week, with many areas experiencing either “drier” or “much drier than normal” conditions. While Valentia in Co. Kerry recorded the highest weekly total at just 13mm (54% of its normal amount), Roches Point in Co. Cork saw no measurable rainfall at all.

The dry spell coincided with unseasonably warm temperatures in the south. Roches Point also registered the highest mean air temperature in the country at 18.2°C, which is 2.6°C above the long-term average. Soil temperatures in the region were also well above normal, with values locally reaching over 20°C—among the highest in the country.

While the south coast saw relatively limited sunshine compared to normal, Cork Airport still recorded the highest sunshine total last week at 23.7 hours, which is 64% of the expected average for this time of year. This was in stark contrast to parts of the north and west, where Malin Head in Donegal recorded just 8.9 hours of sunshine, or 29% of normal.

Looking ahead, the settled spell is not expected to continue. The week ahead will bring a return to more mixed conditions, with rain or showers forecast at times—especially late Sunday into Monday as Storm Floris moves in. Rainfall totals are expected to exceed normal amounts in the west and north, while areas along the south coast, including Cork, may once again receive less than half of the usual rainfall.

Temperatures will return closer to seasonal norms, with mean air temperatures ranging from 14 to 16°C, although soil temperatures will likely remain above average.