South Ulster Records Driest Conditions in Past Week

Rainfall over the past week has been below average across most of Ireland, with the exception of the southeast where totals were above normal, according to Met Éireann.

Ballyhaise in Co. Cavan recorded the lowest rainfall at 3.8 millimetres, just 19 per cent of the weekly average. In contrast, Johnstown Castle in Co. Wexford received 47.2 millimetres, more than double the average at 215 per cent.

Drier than average conditions are expected across much of the country over the coming week, although rain on Friday night and early Saturday will push totals above average in parts of the west and northeast. Rainfall is forecast to range between 60 and 200 per cent of average, with the heaviest falls expected in the west and southwest.

Temperatures over the last seven days have been below average by between 0.7 and 2.3 degrees Celsius, with some air frost recorded earlier in the week. Mean temperatures ranged from 10.0 degrees at Claremorris, Co. Mayo to 12.4 degrees at Malin Head. For the coming week, temperatures are expected to be close to average for this time of year, between 11 and 14 degrees. Soil temperatures have been mostly above average, ranging from 11.9 degrees at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo to 14.1 degrees at Shannon Airport, but may cool slightly in the west over the next few days.

Sunshine amounts were generally average or above, with Gurteen, Co. Tipperary recording 19.2 hours and Shannon Airport seeing 37.7 hours, 44 per cent above normal. Similar or slightly above-average sunshine is expected for the coming week.