Very dry, mild and sunny

The very dry weather, which started in the final third of March, with high pressure dominating, continued through most of April. This led to absolute drought, partial drought and dry spell conditions being reported at many stations between the 18th March and the 29th April, most especially in the Northwest and East. Atlantic weather fronts broke through from the south and southwest at times, such as on Sunday the 5th, between Friday the 10th and Easter Sunday the 12th and between Friday the 17th and Sunday the 19th, but pressure stayed relatively high and rainfall amounts relatively low, apart from a few heavy falls in the South and Southwest. It was cool and cloudy at times, especially at the start of the month, in a northerly airflow, when high pressure was located to the west of Ireland. There were also numerous warm sunny days, especially during the mid-week periods, when high pressure built directly over or to the northeast of Ireland. It was warmest in the western half of the country during these periods, as the winds were mostly from the east off a cool Irish sea. The weather finally broke on the 29th as a complex area of low pressure brought active weather fronts across the country from the south and southwest, followed by showers on the 30th.

Sunshine: Above average everywhere, lowest in Munster, highest in Donegal

All available sunshine totals were above their Long-Term Average (LTA). Percentage of monthly sunshine values ranged from 103% (the month's lowest monthly sunshine total of 164.2 hours) at Cork Airport, Co Cork to 124% (monthly sunshine total of 188.0 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin. Monthly sunshine totals were as much as 204.4 hours (No LTA comparison*) at Malin Head, Co Donegal. The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this month was 13.9 hours at Malin Head, Co Donegal on the 20th. The number of dull days ranged from 1 day at Malin Head, Co Donegal to 6 days at Cork Airport.

Rainfall: Below average everywhere, lowest in the East and Northwest

All monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their Long-Term Average (LTA). Percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 21% (monthly rainfall total of 16.3 mm) at both Markree, Co Sligo and Finner, Co Donegal to 99% (monthly rainfall total of 64.8 mm) at Moore Park, Co Cork. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 12.8 mm (24% of its LTA) at Dublin Airport to 72.3 mm (95% of its LTA) at Cork Airport, Co Cork. Newport and Belmullet, Co Mayo had their driest April for 40 years, while Malin Head, Co Donegal had its driest April for 46 years. Knock Airport, Co Mayo had its driest April on record (record length 23 years). The highest daily rainfall total was 25.6 mm at both Sherkin Island, Co Cork and Athenry, Co Galway both on the 29th. The number of rain days ranged from 7 days at Oak Park, Co Carlow to 13 days at both Roche's Point, Co Cork and Malin Head, Co Donegal. The number of wet days ranged from 4 days at a few stations to 9 days at Moore Park, Co Cork. The number of very wet days ranged from zero days at Dublin (Phoenix Park) to 3 days at a few stations in the Southwest.

Temperature: Above average everywhere, highest in Mayo

All mean air temperatures across the country were above their Long-Term Average (LTA) for the month. Deviations from mean air temperature ranged from 0.4 °C (8.5 °C, the month's lowest mean temperature) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 2.0 °C (9.3 °C and 11.0 °C mean temperature) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo and Newport, Co Mayo respectively. The months highest mean temperature was 11.1 °C (2.0 °C above its LTA) at Newport, Co Mayo. The month's highest temperature was reported at Newport, Co Mayo on the 24th with a temperature of 21.6 °C (8.5 °C above its LTA). Both the month's lowest air and grass minimum temperature were recorded on the 14th at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon. The lowest air minimum was -3.2 °C while the lowest grass minimum was -9.6 °C. All stations reported ground frost during the month. The number of days with ground frost ranged from 1 day at Shannon Airport, Co Clare to 16 days at both Markree, Co Sligo and Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon. More than half of stations reported air frost. The number of days with air frost ranged from zero days at a few stations to 6 days at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin.

Wind: Not significantly strong

Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 5.4 knots (10.0 km/h) at Moore Park, Co Cork to 12.4 knots (23.0 km/h) at Malin Head, Co Donegal. There were zero days with gales, strong gales or storm force winds reported this month. The month's highest gust was reported at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry on the 5th with 50 knots (93 km/h). The month's highest 10-minute mean wind speed was 33 knots (61 km/h), reported at Malin Head, Co Donegal on both the 4th and 5th.

EXTREME VALUES AT SYNOPTIC STATIONS

Rainfall

• Highest total: 72.3 mm at Cork Airport, Co Cork (95% of its LTA)

• Lowest total: 12.8 mm at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin (24% of its LTA)

• Highest daily rainfall: 25.6 mm at both Sherkin Island, Co Cork and Athenry, Co Galway on Wed 29th

Temperature

• Highest mean monthly temperature: 11.1°C at Newport, Co Mayo (2.0°C above its LTA)

• Lowest mean monthly temperature: 8.5°C at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin (0.4°C above its LTA)

• Highest Air temperature: 21.6°C at Newport, Co Mayo (8.5°C above its LTA) on Fri 24th

• Lowest air temperature: -3.2°C at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon (6.8°C below its LTA) on Tue 14th

• Lowest grass minimum: -9.6°C at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon on Tue 14th

Sunshine

• Highest monthly total: 204.4 hrs (daily mean 6.81 hrs/day) at Malin Head*, Co Donegal

• Lowest monthly total: 164.2 hrs (daily mean 5.47 hrs/day) at Cork Airport, Co Cork

• Highest daily sunshine: 13.9 hours at Malin Head*, Co Donegal on Mon 20th

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