It wasn't the summer drought, but September still had lower than average rainfall nearly everywhere in the country, Met Éireann has reported. The driest month was recorded in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, where 38.5mm representing just under half of usual September rain fell last month. Casement airport in Co Dublin had 37mm, representing 61% of normal rainfall.

Newport, Co Mayo, and Malin Head, Co Donegal, were among the few stations reporting higher than average rainfall in September, with a 13% surplus.

Storm Ali

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While storm Ali on 19 September was not the strongest on record, it was unusual this early in the autumn.

Mace Head in Co Galway recorded a 146km/h gust and a 115km/h average wind speed over 10 minutes, the station's strongest winds in September since it opened in 2004.

Last month's temperatures were lower than average everywhere in the country and half of Met Éireann's stations recorded ground frost. The lowest grass temperature was -5.4°C at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon. This was the lowest September record there in 10 years.

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