It was the driest and brightest July in at least a quarter of a century in some parts of the State, according to figures released today.
It was also the warmest July in some parts of the State for eight years, the monthly weather report has shown. Overall the Met Éireann report indicates a month which was warm everywhere and dry and sunny in most places.
Malin Head recorded its warmest July and its hottest July day since 2006 with an average temperature of 15.7 degrees Celsius a maximum of 25.7 degrees. The highest temperature of the month was recorded in Carlow where temperatures hit 27.6 degrees on the 25th of the month.
The mercury climbed across the State with all average temperatures above the norm , ranging from 15.1 degrees at Knock Airport to 17.1 degrees at Shannon airport.
The report has confirmed the cause of many sleepless nights in recent weeks with the highest night time temperatures in 19 years being recorded at some stations, mainly in southern coastal counties.
Drier than normal
July was also drier than normal in most places, with Mullingar reporting its driest July in a quarter of a century. The Co Westmeath weather station recorded less than half of its average rainfall for July. In the capital July was also dry as Dublin recorded the lowest monthly rainfall total since 2006.
Rainy days were rare in some parts of the island, such as Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford where just five wet days were recorded. However when it rained it really did pour in some areas. In Ballyhaise almost 60 per cent of its total monthly rainfall happened on the 19th of July. This day when 44.8mm of rain fell was the Co Cavan station’s wettest in seven years.
Lowest number of dull days
It was the brightest month for Dublin in almost three decades, as Dublin Airport station recorded its lowest number of dull days since 1990. A dull day is one with less than 0.5 hours of sunshine. Dublin Airport also recorded this month’s sunniest days with 15.1 hours of sunshine on July 1st and was overall the sunniest place this month at 181.8 hours . The sunny weather was not just on the east coast. Belmullet, Co Mayo recorded sunshine levels of 15 per cent above normal.
