April was mild and exceptionally dry, due mainly to the overall prevalence of high pressure. The percentage of normal monthly rainfall values ranged from 16% (monthly rainfall total of 9.2mm) at Roche’s Point, Co Cork, to 64% (monthly rainfall total of 41.1mm) at Malin Head, Co Donegal.
Roches Point and Mullingar, Co Westmeath, reported dry spells of 21 and 15 days respectively. Mullingar recorded its driest April since the station opened in 1950.
The majority of stations reported their driest conditions in at nine to 44 years.
Temperature
Mean air temperatures were near or above long-term averages at each station. The highest temperatures were recorded in Dublin, with Dublin Airport’s lowest mean temperature standing at 8.1°C. This compares with a mean temperature of 1°C in Newport, Co Mayo.
Sunshine
However, it was the dullest April in 24 years at Shannon Airport, which had 114 hours of sunshine in total. Knock Airport had just 61.5 hours of sunshine, compared with Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry which had 128 sunshine hours.
Wind
Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 10.2km/h at Mullingar, Co Westmeath, to 26.7km/h at Malin Head, Co Donegal. Gales were reported on 24 and 25 April, with no strong gales or storms reported in the month.
Read more
The sunshine is to continue
Grass+ beef: heavy farms flying and dry farms thirsty
Grass+ dairy: moisture and heat should drive on grass
Sheep: critical week for grass management
April was mild and exceptionally dry, due mainly to the overall prevalence of high pressure. The percentage of normal monthly rainfall values ranged from 16% (monthly rainfall total of 9.2mm) at Roche’s Point, Co Cork, to 64% (monthly rainfall total of 41.1mm) at Malin Head, Co Donegal.
Roches Point and Mullingar, Co Westmeath, reported dry spells of 21 and 15 days respectively. Mullingar recorded its driest April since the station opened in 1950.
The majority of stations reported their driest conditions in at nine to 44 years.
Temperature
Mean air temperatures were near or above long-term averages at each station. The highest temperatures were recorded in Dublin, with Dublin Airport’s lowest mean temperature standing at 8.1°C. This compares with a mean temperature of 1°C in Newport, Co Mayo.
Sunshine
However, it was the dullest April in 24 years at Shannon Airport, which had 114 hours of sunshine in total. Knock Airport had just 61.5 hours of sunshine, compared with Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry which had 128 sunshine hours.
Wind
Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 10.2km/h at Mullingar, Co Westmeath, to 26.7km/h at Malin Head, Co Donegal. Gales were reported on 24 and 25 April, with no strong gales or storms reported in the month.
Read more
The sunshine is to continue
Grass+ beef: heavy farms flying and dry farms thirsty
Grass+ dairy: moisture and heat should drive on grass
Sheep: critical week for grass management
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