Met Éireann issues warnings for Cork as Storm Kathleen nears

FIVE weather stations, including two in Cork, had their highest minimum temperature for March on record last month, with those record lengths ranging from 19 to 84 years.

The information was contained in Met Éireann’s weather statement for March.

According to the statement, the station at Moore Park in Fermoy and the station at Roches Point recorded their highest minimum temperature for March last month in addition to the weather stations at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Dunsany in Co Meath, and Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry.

All mean air temperatures were above their long-term average for the month.

Deviations from mean air temperature ranged from 0.1 C at Mace Head in Galway (8C mean temperature) and Markree in Sligo (7.1 C mean temperature) to 1.1C at Phoenix Park (7.7C mean temperature), Dunsany (7.3C mean temperature) and Moore Park (8C mean temperature).

The number of dull days — a day with less than 30 minutes of sunshine — ranged from eight days at a few stations to 11 days at Valentia Observatory and Cork Airport.

Meanwhile, the majority of monthly rainfall totals were also above their 1981-2010 long-term average last month.

The number of very wet days (a day with 10mm or more of rainfall) ranged from one day at Dublin Airport to eight days at both Valentia Observatory and Cork Airport.

Overall, Met Éireann said March saw Atlantic low-pressure systems “continue to dominate with a southerly displaced jet stream bringing the bulk of the rain to the midlands, south, and east”.

According to the latest outlook, the coming days will remain unsettled with spells of rain and strong winds at times.

A status orange wind warning, due to come into effect this weekend, was yesterday issued for Cork and three other counties as Storm Kathleen is set to hit Ireland.

The warning, issued for counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, and Mayo, will come into effect at 7am tomorrow and will remain in place until 5pm.

According to Met Éireann, possible impacts could include very difficult travel conditions, fallen trees, some power outages, coastal flooding and wave overtopping.

The national forecaster said Storm Kathleen will bring gale force southerly winds, with some severe and damaging gusts.

A separate countrywide status yellow wind warning has been issued for tomorrow, lasting from 7am to 8pm.

A number of marine warnings have also been issued for today, including a status yellow gale warning from Mizen Head to Valentia to Loop Head.

The national forecaster said that south to south-west winds will occasionally reach gale force.