‘Unprecedented’ rain and heat in Ireland in 2023

IRELAND experienced “unprecedented levels” of rain and warming in 2023, the country’s warmest year on record.

Met Éireann’s ‘Provisional State of the Irish Climate’ report, 2023, showed that Ireland’s annual average temperature rose above 11 degrees for the first time since records began 124 years ago.

24 out of 25 synoptic stations had their warmest year on record, of which only Sherkin Island, off the coast of Cork, previously had a slightly warmer year, in 2007. That is according to the provisional data.

Last year was previously Ireland’s warmest on record, with an annual average temperature of almost 10.9°C, exceeding the previous record, in 2007, by 0.1C.

“Ireland has seen a remarkable year, with rainfall and warming at unprecedented levels at times,” head of climate services at Met Éireann, Keith Lambkin, said of Ireland’s weather in 2023.

“These record-breaking extremes have knock-on consequences for much of society.

“Past weather events are no longer a reliable indicator of future weather events, but knowing this allows us to better plan and adapt to our changing climate.”

Since 2000, on average, one or two months of every year have have been among the top-five warmest recorded monthly temperatures.

In 2022, two months were within the top-five warmest.

In 2023, four months reached a ‘top five warmest on record’.

Those were February, May, June, and September.

June 2023 became the warmest June on record with above-16C average temperatures.

Meanwhile, July was the wettest July on record and the wettest month of 2023.

According to the provisional report, 22 out of 25 stations have already had over 100% of their 1981-2010 long-term average (LTA) rainfall. The full report will be published on January 4,

October, the month that brought Storm Babet, was the second-wettest month of the year.

The weather station at Cork Airport recorded its highest October rainfall ever, with 222% of October’s 1981-2020 LTA.

The report also highlights a number of notable events.

January 2023 observed the lowest temperature of the year, with -7.2°C on Tuesday, January 17, at Lullymore Nature Centre, Co Kildare.

April 2023 saw Storm Noa bring storm-force winds and waves up to 17.3m on the Kerry and Cork coast.