Summer 2024 was the coldest in Ireland since 2015

Summer 2024 was deemed to be the coldest summer in nine years, according to a recently published report from Met Éireann.

According to the national weather forecaster, the average national temperature for summer this year was 14.5°C, 0.28°C below the most recent 1991-2020 long-term average (LTA) and 0.19°C below the 1981-2010 LTA.

However, average national temperature for summer this year was above the 1961-1990 LTA at 0.25°C warmer.

The season’s highest temperature was at the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Monday, June 24 — 26.6°C — the lowest maximum summer temperature since 2015.

Provisional data suggests summer 2024 saw an average rainfall of 237mm, which was 86% of the 1981-2010 LTA and 39% drier than summer 2023.

The number of rain days, a day on which 0.2mm or more of rainfall is measured, ranged from 43 days at Roches Point to 73 days at Knock Airport in Mayo.

Met Éireann also published its statement for August 2024 which stated that last month, conditions were wettest in the Northwest and driest in the East and South.

The majority of mean air temperatures across the country were below their LTA for the month. It was the coldest August since 2018 at eight stations and coldest since 2017 at 12 stations.

Sunshine values were variable across the country.

The number of dull days, a day with less than 30 minutes of sunshine, ranged from four days at both Shannon Airport in Clare and Cork Airport, eight days at Belmullet in Mayo.

Met Éireann said winds last month were “strong for August”, especially during the second half of the month.

Storm Lilian, named by the Met Office in the UK, crossed the southern half of the country late on Thursday August 22 and early Friday August 23 bringing widespread heavy rain and strong winds.

Monthly mean wind speeds last month ranged from 5.9 knots (10.9 km/h) at Moore Park in Fermoy to 17.8 knots (33.0 km/h) at Mace Head in Galway.

The number of days with gale force winds ranged from zero days at a few stations to three days at Roches Point in Cork.

The month’s highest 10-minute mean wind speed of 37 knots (69 km/h) was reported at both Belmullet on August 21 and at Roches Point on August 23 during storm Lilian.

The highest gust at 52 knots (96 km/h) was also reported at Roches Point on August 23.