Sunshine Levels Set to Remain Near or Above Normal

Met Éireann’s latest farming commentary shows that the past week was drier than normal across much of the country, apart from western and northern coastal counties where rainfall was near or above average.

Most stations recorded between 30% and 75% of normal rainfall, while some western and northern coastal locations saw between 94% and 143% of average. Dublin Airport was the driest station with 3.7mm, 24% of average, while Malin Head, Co. Donegal, was the wettest with 30.6mm, 143% of average.

The coming week is expected to be much drier than average overall. Today will bring rain and drizzle in the west and north, with a risk of slow-moving heavy and thundery showers at times during the week. These will be scattered and many areas will stay largely dry, leading to well below average rainfall nationwide.

Mean air temperatures over the past week were close to normal, ranging from 14.3 degrees at Knock/Ireland West Airport, Co. Mayo, to 16.7 degrees at Roches Point, Co. Cork. This was between 0.1 degrees below and 1.2 degrees above average. Mean soil temperatures were also above normal, from 15.6 degrees in the north to 18.8 degrees in the south, between 0.8 and 2.8 degrees above average. Over the next week, mean air temperatures are expected to be 1 to 4 degrees above normal, ranging from 16 to 19 degrees, with soil temperatures remaining above average.

Sunshine levels were generally close to or above normal. The dullest location was Knock/Ireland West Airport with 23.5 hours of sunshine, 83% of average. The sunniest was Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin, with 53.5 hours, 133% of average. Sunshine amounts are expected to trend near or above average after today.