Winter temperatures warmer than usual

The warmer-than-normal winter continued through February, Met Éireann said today after last month's average temperatures were…

The warmer-than-normal winter continued through February, Met Éireann said today after last month's average temperatures were one degree higher than usual.

Even though the country had its fair share of frosty nights, mild weather during the day ensured there was a feeling that spring had finally sprung.

While temperatures rose to a high of 14.7 degrees in Kilkenny on Monday, Clones in Co Monaghan felt the coldest on February 7th with a low of -6.5.

Valentia station, off the Kerry coast, was the warmest on average at 7.9, while Knock, Co Mayo, was the coldest at an average five degrees.

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Met Éireann's summary for the month said it was mild and mostly sunny but wet in the south. Rainfall totals were above normal across the southern half of the country yet the north stayed relatively dry.

Met Éireann said that despite little rain before the 7th, the total number of wet days - when 1mm or more of rain fell - was above normal everywhere. Most weather stations had 14 to 16 wet days compared with the normal 11 to 15.

Valentia was by far the wettest with 20 days of rain.

The sun shone right through the month, giving a sunnier-than-normal February, yet most stations had their brightest days in the first week. Forecasters said that at most stations it was the warmest February since 2002.