Warm Start to Late August Before Wetter Spell Sets In

High pressure to the north of Ireland is expected to bring a mostly settled start to the second half of August, before conditions turn more unsettled by month’s end, according to Met Éireann’s latest extended forecast.

For the week beginning Monday, August 18th, the forecaster expects largely dry weather for much of the country, although occasional heavy showers or thunderstorms are possible, particularly in the Midlands and south. Rainfall totals are likely to be below average in many areas, especially in the north, while mean air temperatures will be slightly above the August norm.

The final week of August (August 25th–31st) is likely to see more unsettled weather develop over Ireland and north-west Europe, with above-average rainfall expected nationwide. The heaviest falls are forecast in southern and western counties. Temperatures will remain near or slightly above average.

The start of September (September 1st–7th) is projected to be changeable and rather unsettled, with above-normal rainfall and temperatures close to the seasonal average. Limited forecast signals for mid-September (September 8th–14th) suggest the changeable conditions may persist, with rainfall above normal and temperatures near average.

For the August–September–October period, Met Éireann says seasonal models from the Copernicus Climate Change Service indicate mean temperatures in Ireland will be above average by between 0.5 and 1.0 degrees, with warmer-than-normal seas around the Irish coast also expected to play a role. Rainfall patterns for the three months are less certain, with potential for both wetter and drier spells.

Sea surface temperatures around Ireland are forecast to remain between 0.5 and 2.0 degrees above average during the period.