The climate of Ireland can be summed up as being mild, moist and changeable with abundant rainfall and a lack of temperature extremes. It is defined as a temperate oceanic climate, or Cfb on the Köppen climate classification system, a classification it shares with most of northwest Europe.[1] The country receives generally warm summers and mild winters, and is considerably warmer than other areas on its latitude. This is due to the fact it lies in the Atlantic Ocean, and as a result is warmed by the Gulf Stream all year. Met Éireann is the meteorological service of the Republic of Ireland, and the Met Office is that of Northern Ireland.
The influence of the Gulf Stream also ensures the coastline of Ireland remains ice-free throughout the winter—unlike for example the Sea of Okhotsk and the Labrador Sea which are at a similar latitude. The climate in Ireland does not experience extreme weather, with tornadoes and similar weather features being rare.
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Ireland, as a whole, experiences a lack of temperature extremes compared to other areas of similar latitudes. Summers are generally warm and winters are mild. There is a regional variation, with inland areas being cooler in winter and warmer in summer than their coastal counterparts.
The warmest areas are found along the south-west coast. Valentia Island, County Kerry has the highest annual mean temperature, at 10.4 °C (50.7 °F).[2]
The coldest areas are found inland. Clones, County Monaghan and Mullingar, County Westmeath both have the lowest annual mean temperature, at 8.8 °C (47.8 °F).[3][4]
The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) at Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny on 26 June 1887. The lowest temperature was −19.1 °C (−2.4 °F) at Markree Castle, County Sligo on 16 January 1881.[5]
Extreme heat and cold are both rare throughout the country. Summer temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) usually once or twice every decade (2006, 2005, 2003, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1983, 1976 and 1975 are recent examples), though commonly reach the high 20s ºC (low 80s ºF) most summers, while severe freezes occur only occasionally in winter, with temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) being very uncommon, and temperatures below freezing uncommon in many coastal areas.
Mean daily winter temperatures vary from 4.0 °C (39.2 °F) to 7.6 °C (45.7 °F), and mean daily summer temperatures vary from 12.3 °C (54.1 °F) to 15.7 °C (60.3 °F).
| Climate data for Ireland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.5 (65.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
23.6 (74.5) |
25.8 (78.4) |
28.4 (83.1) |
33.3 (91.9) |
32.3 (90.1) |
31.5 (88.7) |
29.1 (84.4) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.1 (64.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.1 (−2.4) |
−17.8 (0.0) |
−17.2 (1.0) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
−18.7 (−1.7) |
−19.1 (−2.4) |
| Source: Met Éireann / Met Office | |||||||||||||
Air frost occurs frequently in the winter, with most areas seeing over 40 days of air frost every year. In northern areas, air frost occurs on average 10.2 days every January, the month in which air frost occurs most frequently.[6] Along the coast, air frost occurs less regularly. In the Sperrins and the Glens of Antrim air frost occurs around 80 days of year.[7] The pattern is similar with ground frost, with on average around 100 days of ground frost in the lowlands and over 140 in the mountains.[8]
Frost is rarer along the coast, in urban areas and also in western and southern areas.
Roches Point, County Cork receives the least amount of days with air frost, with an average of 7.0 days with air frost recorded annually.[9]
Kilkenny, County Kilkenny receives the most amount of days with air frost, with an average of 53.0 days with air frost recorded annually.[10]
In Dublin, Dublin Airport records air frost on average 24.3 days per year, while Casement Aerodrome (which is further inland) records air frost on average 41.3 days per year.[11][12]
Most of Ireland is in hardiness zone 9, with the interior being zone 8 and the south-west coast being in zone 10.
The sunniest months are May and June. During these months sunshine duration averages between 5 and 6½ hours per day over most of the country. The south-east gets the most sunshine, averaging over 7 hours a day in early summer. December is the dullest month with an average daily sunshine ranging from about 1 hour in the north to almost 2 hours in the south-east. Over the year as a whole most areas get an average of between 3¼ and 3¾ hours of sunshine each day. Irish skies are completely covered by cloud roughly half of the time.
The sunniest part of the island is the south-east coast. Rosslare, County Wexford is the sunniest area, and receives on average 4.33 hours of sunshine per day (1,580.45 hours per year).[13]
The dullest, i.e., least sunny, part of the island is in the northern half of the country. Clones, County Monaghan is the dullest area, receiving on average 3.19 hours of sunshine per day (1,164.35 hours per year).[3]
Rainfall is, by far, the most common form of precipitation on the island.[1]
Rainfall is extremely common throughout Ireland, although some parts of the west coast receive over four times as much rain as the east coast. Rainfall in Ireland normally comes from Atlantic frontal systems which travel north-east over the Island, bringing cloud and rain. Most of the eastern half of the country has between 750 and 1,000 mm (29.5 and 39.4 in) of rainfall in the year. Rainfall in the west generally averages between 1,000 and 1,250 mm (39.4 and 49.2 in). In many mountainous districts rainfall exceeds 3,000 mm (118.1 in) per year. The wettest months almost everywhere are December and January. April is the driest month generally, but in many southern parts June is the driest.
The average number of "wet days" (days with more than 1 mm (0.039 in) of rain) ranges from about 151 days a year along the east and south-east coasts, to about 225 days a year in parts of the west.
The wettest weather station is that in Valentia Island, County Kerry, which receives 1,430.1 mm (56.30 in) of rain per year, on average.[2]
The driest weather station is Casement Aerodrome, County Dublin, which receives 711.4 mm (28.01 in) of rain per year, on average.[14]
The weather station with the highest number of "wet days" is Belmullet, County Mayo with 193 days per year,[15] while the station with the lowest number of "wet days" is Dublin Airport, County Dublin with 128 days per year.[16]
Severe cold weather is uncommon in Ireland with the majority of winter precipitation coming in the form of rain. Although hills and mountainous regions in the country can see up to 30 days of snowfall annually, most low lying regions of the island only see a few days of lying snow per year (from December to March inclusive), or may see no snow at all during some winters. However, in recent winters, there has been a significant increase in prolonged "cold snaps", in which heavy snow does fall across Ireland for several weeks, often causing disruption to traffic and services across Ireland. Consequently, there have been increased calls to prepare the country for snow and ice, including the distribution of grit, salt, and other snow-treatable minerals. In late 2011, the Irish Government set up "Winter-Ready", in order to prepare the country for such severe weather.[17]
Due to the volatility of Ireland's weather (which is mainly because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift, as well as Ireland's Northerly latitude and vulnerability to Siberian/Arctic winds) weather during the Winter months is very variable and difficult to predict, with the aforementioned factors making both extremely low temperatures and relatively mild temperatures possible.
The snowiest weather station is that in Clones, County Monaghan; which receives, on average, nearly 30 days of snow and/or sleet per year. Of these, 10.8 days have snow lying at 09:00.[3]
The least snowy weather station is that in Valentia Island, County Kerry; which receives, on average, 5.6 days of snow and/or sleet per year. Of these, 0.8 days have snow lying at 09:00.[2]
Hail, like snow and sleet, is also rare in Ireland; however it can occur at any time of the year.
Malin Head, County Donegal receives the most hail; with there being 48.4 days per year with hail falling.[18]
Roches Point, County Cork receives the least hail; with there being 8.0 days per year with hail falling.[19]
Thunder is most common in Ireland late in summer; though can occur at any time of the year.
Cork Airport, County Cork experiences the least thunder; receiving it 3.7 days per year on average.[20]
Valentia Island, County Kerry experiences the most thunder; receiving it 7.1 days per year on average.[2]
Generally, the coast tends to be windier than inland areas; and the west tends to be windier than the east.
The station with the highest mean wind speed is Malin Head, County Donegal; averaging at 16.3 kn (30.2 km/h; 18.8 mph). Malin Head also receives the most gale force winds, recording them on average 66.0 days per year.[18]
The station with the lowest mean wind speed is Kilkenny, County Kilkenny; averaging at 6.5 kn (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph).[21]
The station that records the least amount of gale force winds is that in Birr, County Offaly; recording them on average 1.2 days per year.[22]
The highest wind speed ever recorded in Ireland was 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn) at Kilkeel, County Down on 12 January 1974.
Tornadoes are very rare in Ireland, with around less than ten reported every year - mostly in August.[23]
Fog is more common inland and on higher altitudes; mainly during winter and during the morning at times of high pressure.
The foggiest station is that at Cork Airport, County Cork, which has 99.5 days of fog per year.[20]
The least foggy station is that at Valentia Island, County Kerry, which has 8.9 days of fog per year.[2]
| Year | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest annual total | 1,720 millimetres (68 in) Valentia Observatory |
1,332 millimetres (52.4 in) Valentia Observatory |
2,175 millimetres (85.6 in) Valentia Observatory |
1,673 millimetres (65.9 in) Valentia Observatory |
1,351 millimetres (53.2 in) Valentia Observatory |
1,761 millimetres (69.3 in) Valentia Observatory |
1,500 millimetres (59 in) Valentia Observatory |
|||||||
| Lowest annual total | 672 millimetres (26.5 in) Dublin Airport |
671 millimetres (26.4 in) Dublin Airport |
918 millimetres (36.1 in) Dublin Airport |
944 millimetres (37.2 in) Dublin Airport |
755 millimetres (29.7 in) Rosslare |
678 millimetres (26.7 in) Casement Aerodrome |
624 millimetres (24.6 in) Casement Aerodrome |
|||||||
| Highest daily rainfall | 115.3 millimetres (4.54 in) Hacketstown 11 November |
86.5 millimetres (3.41 in) Knock Airport 6 September |
51.2 millimetres (2.02 in) Cork Airport 19 November |
102.0 millimetres (4.02 in) Belderrig 13 August |
53.3 millimetres (2.10 in) Phoenix Park 22 June |
55.3 millimetres (2.18 in) Valentia Observatory 25 October |
66.3 millimetres (2.61 in) Cork Airport 24 July |
|||||||
| Source: Met Éireann / Met Office | ||||||||||||||
| Year | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest mean annual temperature | 11.0 °C (51.8 °F) Valentia Observatory |
10.1 °C (50.2 °F) Valentia Observatory |
11.1 °C (52.0 °F) Valentia Observatory |
11.1 °C (52.0 °F) Valentia Observatory |
11.7 °C (53.1 °F) Valentia Observatory |
11.4 °C (52.5 °F) Valentia Observatory and Rosslare |
11.4 °C (52.5 °F) Valentia Observatory |
|||||||
| Lowest mean annual temperature | 8.9 °C (48.0 °F) Knock Airport |
7.9 °C (46.2 °F) Knock Airport |
8.7 °C (47.7 °F) Knock Airport |
8.7 °C (47.7 °F) Knock Airport |
9.5 °C (49.1 °F) Knock Airport |
9.1 °C (48.4 °F) Knock Airport |
9.1 °C (48.4 °F) Knock Airport |
|||||||
| Highest temperature | 26.0 °C (78.8 °F) Athy 3 June and Cavan 3 June |
26.8 °C (80.2 °F) Ardfert 23 May |
28.6 °C (83.5 °F) Galway 2 June |
25.9 °C (78.6 °F) Ardtarmon 28 July and Castlederg 28 July |
26.9 °C (80.4 °F) Ballyshannon 9 June |
32.3 °C (90.1 °F) Elphin 19 July |
30.3 °C (86.5 °F) Kildalton 12 July |
|||||||
| Lowest temperature | −8.3 °C (17.1 °F) Thomastown 29 January |
−18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) Castlederg 23 December |
−10 °C (14.0 °F) Mullingar 25 December |
−8.8 °C (16.2 °F) Katesbridge 18 February |
−8 °C (17.6 °F) Cavan 7 February |
−8.6 °C (16.5 °F) Straide 3 March |
−5.6 °C (21.9 °F) Casement Aerodrome 3 March |
|||||||
| Source: Met Éireann / Met Office | ||||||||||||||
| Year | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest annual total | 1,548 hours Dublin Airport |
1,771 hours Cork Airport |
1,561 hours Dublin Airport |
1,512 hours Dublin Airport |
1,789 hours Rosslare |
1,710 hours Rosslare |
1,619 hours Rosslare |
|||||||
| Lowest annual total | 1,123 hours Knock Airport |
1,530 hours Knock Airport |
1,319 hours Knock Airport |
1,249 hours Birr |
1,330 hours Knock Airport |
1,304 hours Knock Airport |
1,147 hours Birr |
|||||||
| Highest daily sunshine | 15.9 hours Casement Aerodrome 3 June |
16.0 hours Casement Aerodrome 20 June |
16.0 hours Casement Aerodrome 24 June |
15.3 hours Malin Head 26 May |
15.6 hours Knock Airport 4 June and Malin Head 6 June |
15.8 hours Malin Head 25 June |
15.6 hours Rosslare 11 July and Dublin Airport 11 July |
|||||||
| Source: Met Éireann / Met Office | ||||||||||||||
Visibility is generally very good, because of the proximity of industry to the coast, allowing breezes to disperse any smoke.[24] Mist and fog often occur, as well as coastal fog in the east,[25] but it is generally not long-lasting. However in winter, it can be slow to clear.[24]
