IT’S NOT NEWS that January was wet, bleak and generally miserable weather-wise.
But Met Éireann has confirmed that last month was one of the dullest in almost 50 years in some places.
Casement Aerodrome recorded just 24.7 hours of sunshine, making it the dullest 31-day period for the areas since 1964. The number of dull days ranged from 16 at Shannon Airport to 24 at Knock, which experienced its dullest January since records began in 1997.
Across the country, sunshine levels were below average but temperatures were above regular recordings.
Highest maximum temperatures were mostly recorded on the 29 January, with the month’s highest maximum of 14.1°C at Phoenix Park, its highest since 2008.
Unsurprisingly, most stations reported on or above their long-term average rainfall. The only exceptions were in parts of the northwest and midlands.
Dublin Airport witnessed its wettest January in five years and its highest daily rainfall since 1980.
Other stations in the Dublin area and a few stations across the midlands and west also reported their wettest January since 2008. The number of wet days (days with 1mm or more) were well above average in the east, south, southwest and north. Valentia Observatory recorded a significant 26 wet days, while the number of very wetdays (days with 10mm or more) were eight at Claremorris and Valentia Observatory, with Claremorris reporting nearly double its average for January.
Unfortunately, the outlook doesn’t offer better news. The forecast for next week mentions heavy, thundery showers, snow and wind.
For the first half of the week, experts predict very cold and very windy conditions, as well as frequent showers and some falls of snow.
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