On This Day (20 May) in Irish Weather History

A chronological record of weather events and extremes that occurred in Ireland on 20 May throughout history.

1939: The earliest surviving Radio Éireann recording of a weather forecast is broadcast.

1953: A group of British ornithologists are rescued by fishermen after spending a week storm-bound on the Great Saltee Islands, off County Wexford.

1966: Astronomy enthusiasts gather for a partial solar eclipse over Ireland.

1975: Temperatures reach the low 20s across Ireland.

1988: Snow settles on the higher slopes of the Dublin Mountains.

1998: Very warm conditions continue across Ireland. The top temperature on this day is recorded in Cork (23.4°C).

2010: The temperature rises to 24.4°C at Gurteen, County Tipperary.

2020: A 20-day dry spell at five Met Éireann stations comes to an end.

2021: Moore Park, County Cork, records 30.9 mm of rainfall, its highest May daily total in 57 years.

2024: Cork Airport, County Cork, records 14.9 hours of unbroken sunshine, the highest daily total for the month.