Wettest January recorded at Cork Airport since 2016

The Climate Statement for January from the national forecaster showed that while Moore Park recorded some 143.7mm of rainfall for last month, the majority of the monthly rainfall was above average across the country. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Some 200.5mm of rain fell at Cork Airport, marking it the wettest January for the area since 2016, according to Met Éireann. 

The Climate Statement for January from the national forecaster showed that while Moore Park recorded some 143.7mm of rainfall for last month, the majority of the monthly rainfall was above average across the country. 

The lowest value of 90.5mm (87%) was recorded at Shannon Airport, while the highest of 237.7mm (230%) was found at Johnstown Castle. 

Some 37.3mm of rain on January 30, at Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford, making it the highest daily rainfall for January since 1979 for the area. 

It was also the wettest January since 1948 and the second wettest on record at both Phoenix Park with 141mm and Dublin Airport at 137.7mm. The number of rain days varied between 22 days at Casement Aerodrome in Dublin and 30 days at both Newport, Co Mayo and Valentia Observatory in Kerry.

January began cold and stayed mostly dry with some winter sunshine and widespread frost. However, a high-pressure system moved a cold Arctic airmass over the country, which brought some wintry showers and occasional snowfall. 

The second week then saw more bands of rain and showers moving in from the west as the weather became milder, with the high-pressure system pulling away to the north. 

Later in the second half of the month, a "strong southerly displaced North Atlantic jet stream" created a "succession of low pressure systems" which resulted in prolonged spells of heavy rain across the south and east of the country. This then caused significant flooding in places. 

Meanwhile, the highest number of daily sunshine days was also recorded at Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford at 7.2 hours. The national forecaster said available sunshine in January was generally above average, with the best spells in the south. 

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Towards the end of the month, Storm Chandra "rapidly deepened" into the south of Ireland on January 26 before moving into the north later in the day. Met Éireann said it brought strong winds and widespread heavy rainfall. 

Both January's highest gust at 130km/h and 10-minute mean wind speed at 104km/h were recorded at Malin Head, Co Donegal, on January 27 during Storm Chandra. 

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