Last year was the seventh warmest year since 1900. This is part of a trend – 15 of the warmest 20 years in Ireland have occurred since 1990.

The analysis is part of Met Éireann’s Climate Annual 2017 . For most, 2017 will be remembered for the wet second half which saw widespread housing of animals in August.

The analysis reflects this as unusually dry and mild conditions in the first half of the year gave way to wet and unsettled ones. Storm Ophelia, an ex-tropical cyclone, hit on 16 October, bringing storm force winds to Munster and strong gales to many areas with widespread destructive gusts. Rainfall was extremely variable. Most stations were below their long-term average but this was due to the dry start to the year. The highest annual rainfall was recorded in Kerry with 3,000mm. Malin Head recorded 73mm in a single day – the station’s wettest summer since 1956.