Gusts of up to 88km/h recorded in Cork in November

A CORK weather station reported the highest number of days with gale force winds in November, during a month that saw two storms hit the country.

According to Met Éireann’s weather statement for November, 2023, the number of days with gales ranged from zero at a few stations to seven at the weather station on Sherkin Island. A gale force wind ranges from 62-74km/h.

Elsewhere in Cork, strong gales, identified as wind speeds of 75-88km/h, occurred on November 13 at Roches Point during Storm Debi.

Commenting on conditions last month, Met Éireann said the first two thirds of November saw Atlantic low pressure systems dominate.

Storm Ciarán, followed by Storm Debi, both hit Ireland last month bringing “a swathe of very strong and damaging winds, along with widespread heavy rain”.

However, the final third of the month was “relatively dry with high pressure in charge”.

“It became progressively colder towards the end of the month with frost and fog in places as an Arctic air mass moved in over the country from the north and northeast,” the national forecaster said in its latest weather statement.

Most of the monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their 1981-2010 long-term average (LTA).

The number of rain days ranged from 18 days at Roches Point to 28 days at Valentia Observatory in Kerry.

The number of wet days — a day with 1mm or more of rainfall — ranged from 12 days at a few stations to 23 days at Valentia Observatory.

Nearly all mean air temperatures were above their LTA for the month in November.

Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 6.6C (0.4 above its LTA) at Knock Airport in Mayo to 10.2C (0.7C above its LTA) at Sherkin Island. All available sunshine totals were above their LTA.

According to the latest forecast for Munster, mixed conditions are in store this weekend.

Tomorrow morning, rain will “continue to clear away to the northeast” and sunny spells and blustery showers will follow.

Maximum temperatures will be between eight and 11 degrees “in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, which will veer westerly during the day”.

Tomorrow night, rain will “push in across Munster and Connacht, extending across the rest of the country by dawn”.

Sunday is also set to bring mixed conditions.