Ireland soaked as west records 236pc the usual rainfall

Much of Ireland has seen wetter than average conditions in the past week, with rainfall accumulations ranging from 73 to 236 per cent of normal, according to Met Éireann.

The highest totals were in the west and southwest, where Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry recorded 65.8mm of rain. The driest conditions were in the south, with just 14.3mm measured at Roche’s Point in Co Cork.

The coming week is expected to remain unsettled, with spells of rain and showers on most days. Rainfall amounts are forecast to stay above average, particularly in the west and southwest.

Air temperatures over the past week were within a degree of seasonal norms. The warmest conditions were in the east, where many stations reported mean temperatures above 14 degrees, about half a degree above average.

Knock Airport in Co Mayo recorded the lowest mean temperature at 13.1 degrees, which was still 0.3 degrees above normal. Soil temperatures have been running between one and two degrees above average, ranging from 14.2 to 16.2 degrees, and are expected to remain steady in the week ahead.

There was significant variation in sunshine. Knock Airport in Co Mayo recorded only 11.5 hours, representing 44 per cent of the climatological average. In contrast, Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford reported 36.8 hours of sunshine, equivalent to 110 per cent of normal.

View the long range weather forecast.