Rainfall Only a Quarter of Normal During Past Week

Most of Ireland experienced a dry and relatively mild week, according to the latest figures from Met Éireann.

Rainfall totals fell below seasonal norms in nearly all parts of the country, with the exception of some areas in the northwest which saw near-average amounts.

Roches Point in County Cork was the driest location, recording just 3.3 millimetres of rain over the week. This figure represents only 20 percent of its usual rainfall for the period. At the other end of the scale, the wettest location was Belmullet in County Mayo, which recorded 22.7 millimetres of rain.

Most stations across Ireland recorded between 50 and 80 percent of their average rainfall. Conditions over the coming days are expected to remain mixed but more settled, with only light showers or patchy rain forecast. Rainfall totals are expected to stay well below normal, with just 25 percent of the average rainfall expected for much of the country.

Temperatures Slightly Above Average

Air temperatures over the past seven days were close to or slightly above average for this time of year. The weekly mean ranged from 15 degrees Celsius at Knock Airport in County Mayo to 17.8 degrees at Roches Point. These values were between 0.1 and 2.3 degrees higher than normal.

Soil temperatures were also above average. Readings ranged from 16.3 degrees in the north to 20.4 degrees in the south, exceeding seasonal norms by between 1.4 and 4.6 degrees. Both air and soil temperatures are expected to remain at or slightly above normal in the coming week.

Sunshine Levels Below Normal

Despite the warm conditions, the week was notably dull. Knock Airport reported only 9.5 hours of sunshine, just 33 percent of the average. Cork Airport fared better, recording 34.7 hours, which is 94 percent of the usual amount.

Met Éireann says the weather will continue to be mixed in the coming days, but more frequent sunny spells are expected. As a result, sunshine levels are forecast to return to near-average values.