Ireland has wettest March in 22 years

Parts of the country saw the wettest March in more than 20 years, forecasters revealed today.

The month was plagued with bouts of heavy rain, frequent thunderstorms and strong winds but despite spring’s bleak start sunshine levels were 10% higher than normal.

While temperatures were around average they plummeted low enough for a few days to bring sleet and snow showers to parts of the west, according to Met Eireann’s monthly summary.

Parts of the country suffered the wettest March for between 12 and 22 years, with Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome the wettest for 40 years.

Heaviest falls were recorded during the periods 9th to 11th and 27th to 31st bringing localised flooding at the end of the month.

Most stations recorded between 16 and 22 wet days compared with a normal range of 11 to 17.

There was also a higher than average number of frosts, with Kilkenny’s total of 28 ground frosts its highest for March since the station opened in 1957.

The beginning of the month saw frequent bouts of heavy rain and strong winds as an Atlantic depression settled over the country.

The festivities surrounding the St Patrick’s weekend enjoyed a calmer, bright spell, before a cold front swept in from the north bringing with it outbreaks of showers for the rest of the month.

Knock Airport recorded the highest rainfall level at 171 mm, with the lowest at 71mm in Rosslare.

Shannon Airport enjoyed the month’s highest temperature at 13.5 Celsius on the 13th, with the lowest, -4.1 Celsius, at Casement Aerodrome on the 18th.