Seven Met Éireann stations reported the coldest September in 21 years or more. All monthly mean air temperatures were below their long-term average (LTA). Differences from LTA were as much as -1.3°C at Dublin Airport, with a mean temperature of 11.8°C.

Mean temperatures varied from 11.6°C at Mullingar (-1.0°C), to 11.6°C at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan (-1.1°C), and 13.0°C (-1.2°C) at Shannon Airport.

Most of the highest temperatures were recorded on the 8th of the month, with the majority of maximum temperatures recording their lowest maximums for seven years or more. Dunsany recorded a temperature of 19.0°C - its lowest maximum temperature for September in 22 years - while the Phoenix Park recorded a temperature of 18.9°C - its lowest maximum since 1974.

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Eight stations reported ground frost, with Oak Park, Co Carlow, and Mountdillon, Co Roscommon, reporting four days each in the month.

To make matters worse, there was also above average rainfall in the south and west. Luckily for Leinster and Ulster, below-average rainfall was reported elsewhere.

Wettest day

Rainfall was most unusually low at Malin Head (31% of its LTA), with a monthly rainfall total of 29.7mm. Mace Head, Co Galway, reported the highest rainfall above average at 144% of its LTA. The station reported 161.3mm of rainfall for the month,with over one third (58.4mm) falling on the 11th.

Newport, Co Mayo, also had its wettest day on the 11th, recording a daily rainfall total of 79.4mm - its wettest September day since records began 55 years ago.

A couple of stations in the southwest also reported that day as their wettest September day in over 22 years. Valentia Observatory recorded 55.4mm, its wettest since 1993, and Sherkin Island recorded 60.5mm, its wettest since records began in 1980.

Sunny Malin Head

Malin Head was the place to be, as it reported the sunniest September since 2002.

Monthly sunshine totals ranged from 69.1 hours at Knock Airport (daily mean of 2.3 hrs/day, 66% of its LTA) to 136.4 hours at Dublin Airport (daily mean of 4.6hrs/day, 105% of LTA). The most sunshine in one day was 12.6 hours reported at Belmullet, Co Mayo, on the 8th.

There was nothing special about the month's wind, as it was around average throughout the country.