Rainfall Three Times Normal Amount During Past Week

Ireland experienced far wetter than normal conditions last week, with some locations recording more than three times their usual rainfall.

According to Met Éireann, totals ranged from 127 to 314 per cent of the seasonal average. Dublin Airport had the lowest total at 27.4mm, while Knock/Ireland West Airport in Co Mayo and Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry both reported just over 69mm.

The forecaster said the unsettled spell will ease in the short term. Heavy showers are expected on Saturday but conditions will turn drier on Sunday as high pressure develops. For much of the coming week rainfall amounts are likely to be below normal, although forecasters warn that heavier bursts are possible towards the end of the working week. There remains considerable uncertainty about the timing and intensity of any late-week rain.

Temperatures last week stayed close to the seasonal norm. Mean air temperatures ranged from 12.2 degrees at Knock to 14.3 degrees at Oak Park in Co Carlow. Soil temperatures ran higher than usual, between 12.4 and 14.6 degrees, as much as 1.6 degrees above average. The coming week is expected to be cooler, with mean air temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees generally, two to three degrees below average for much of the country, though northern areas may remain closer to normal. Soil temperatures are forecast to fall in tandem.

Sunshine totals were mixed. Valentia Observatory recorded just 14.1 hours last week, barely half its average, while Dublin Airport logged 21.4 hours, or 72 per cent of normal. Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford saw the highest total at 29.1 hours, close to its seasonal norm. Met Éireann expects spells of sunshine to return in the days ahead but cloudier conditions at times mean overall sunshine amounts will probably stay near average.