LONG TERM OUTLOOK - Will there be an August heatwave or will the sunshine return?
IRELAND WEATHER NEWS
We now are over the recent heatwave which was the warmest spell of weather since 2018 when Ireland also experienced a heatwave and drought on the island.
The highest temperature of the year so far was recorded on Wednesday 21st of July , with 30.8°C at Mount Dillon, Co. Roscommon. In the northern Ireland temperatures reached 31.4°C at Armagh, making it the third time in 1 week Northern Ireland seen it’s highest temperature record broken. At least 11 weather stations reached heatwave criteria across Ireland, with temperatures having reached at least 25°C for 7 days in a row.
Two tropical nights in a row were also recorded during the heatwave, with the temperatures at Valentia Observatory not falling below 20°C on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd nights. Tropical nights are very rare in Ireland with around seven being recorded since digital records began in 1942.
August outlook
This week the Atlantic and northwesterly flow returned or as some would put it normal service resumes across Ireland bringing much cooler conditions with heavy showers or longer spells of rain. The Bank Hoilday weekend will see drier weather with some sunny spells. Looking ahead to next week the current outlook is for further showers some heavy with some longer periods of rain again with a unstable airmass to the north and northeast of Ireland bringing unsettled conditions.
As we head into the middle of August the trend is for further unsettled weather across Ireland with a unstable airmass still across Ireland. Temperatures will be near normal with no real heat in the forecast but there may be a little rise in temperature heading into the end of that week.
As we head into the final week and half or so of the month of August the latest outlook is for higher pressure starting to build across Ireland which will bring some drier and possibly warmer weather in the high teen to low 20s possibly a little warmer but signals are yet weak at this range.
The latest ECMWF weather model longer range forecast for early September has higher pressure building across or near Ireland which would bring a drier start to that month and possibly warm but signals at this stage are not very strong.
Donegal Weather Channel will issue its 4 month forecast update next week from the SEA 5 weather model when the monthly update is available.