Ireland enjoys warmest September on record

September was the warmest on record in most parts of Ireland, Met Éireann revealed today.

The above average temperatures over the past four weeks were higher than those for a typical August, according to the meteorological records.

It was the warmest September for around 50 years in most places, while long term weather stations reported their highest temperatures for more than a century.

Malin Head’s weather station, at the most northerly point of Ireland, recorded its warmest September since 1895, while at Dublin’s Phoenix Park it was the hottest since 1865.

Shannon Airport reported the country’s highest temperature last month, at 23.1 degrees Celsius on the 11th.

Rosslare in Co Wexford was the country’s warmest spot throughout the month with an average (mean) high of 16 degrees Celsius, its warmest since records began there in 1956.

It also had the highest monthly total of sunshine (153 hours) and the most daily sunshine recorded, at 12.2 hours on September 7.

Average monthly temperatures – of between 15 and 16 degrees Celsius – across the country were around three degrees higher than is usual.

According to the Met Éireann, deep Atlantic depressions close to the west coast were the dominant influence during the month.

The depressions brought in former tropical storms and hurricanes – including the tail end of Hurricane Gordon which wreaked havoc at the Ryder Cup - particularly between September 20 and 23, while a tornado was reported near Aclare, Co Sligo on the September 23.

Rainfall totals were also above normal, with the west and south of the country worst hit, with some localised flooding. It was the wettest September for six or seven years in most places, but Belmullet, Co Mayo, recorded its highest rainfall since 1985.

Shannon Airport had its highest daily rainfall for September (48mm) since the weather station opened there in 1945.

Sunshine totals were a little higher than is usual and a number of stations had their sunniest September day for more than two decades on the September 7 and 8.