September temperature records broken at 14 weather stations last month
As a result of a hot tropical-continental air mass moving over the country from the south-southeast towards the beginning of last month, all but one weather station reported their highest temperature of the year. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Fourteen of the country's weather stations saw their all-time September temperatures broken last month, with four stations reporting heatwave conditions.
According to Met Éireann's Climate Statement for September 2023, mean air temperatures at each of the forecaster's 25 weather stations were above their long-term average (LTA) for the month — calculated by averaging each location’s monthly total from 1981 to 2010.
Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 13.6C at Knock Airport — 1.6C above its LTA — to 15.7C at Shannon Airport — 1.5C above its LTA.
Last month's highest overall temperature — 28.5C — was reported at Oak Park, Co Carlow, on Friday, September 8. This was also the highest September temperature ever recorded at the station.
September 2023: Very mild, sunny and wet with one named storm.
— Climate Services @ Met Éireann (@METclimate) October 3, 2023
Rainfall: Above average nearly everywhere, wettest in the East and South.
Temperature: Above average everywhere, heatwaves and September station records in places👉https://t.co/Jqm7jNNYQB pic.twitter.com/TrQqFtiB94
As a result of a hot tropical-continental air mass moving over the country from the south-southeast towards the beginning of last month, all but one weather station reported their highest temperature of the year, with 14 breaking their September maximum record.
Heatwaves were also officially recorded at four weather stations. Heatwave status is reached when a maximum daily shaded air temperature of greater than 25C is reported at a given weather station for five or more consecutive days.
The status was reached at Mount Dillon in Roscommon, Shannon Airport, Oak Park, and in Gurteen, Co Tipperary. All four heatwaves took place between Monday, September 5 and Friday, September 8.
While last month was remarkably warm, levels of recorded rainfall were also higher than in previous years.
The forecaster's report notes Atlantic low-pressure systems gradually became more dominant, leading to "widespread heavy rain" between September 15 and 19, while ex-hurricane Nigel and Storm Agnes brought further heavy rainfall upon the country towards the end of the month.
Indeed, Met Éireann said the majority of monthly rainfall totals were above their LTA last month, with stations along the west coast experiencing the worst of the downpours.
189.3mm of rain fell at Valentia Observatory in Kerry, equating to 151% of its LTA. On September 24 alone, 57.9mm fell on the weather station at Mace Head in Galway.
In Cork, Roches Point and Cork Airport each recorded their wettest September since 2006.
In terms of wind, monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 5.4 knots (10.0 km/h) at Moore Park in Cork to 13.8 knots (25.6 km/h) at Malin Head in Donegal.
Gales force winds were reported on September 19, 20, 24, 27, and 28. Strong gales, the month's highest gust, and highest 10-minute mean wind speed were reported during storm Agnes on Wednesday, September 27.
The highest gust — 63 knots (117 km/h) — was reported at Sherkin Island, Co Cork. The highest 10-minute mean wind speed last month — 46 knots (85 km/h) — was recorded at Roche’s Point.
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