More weather records as rain-soaked July concludes
Following on from the warmest June on record for Ireland, July 2023 is set to be the wettest July on record according to provisional data.
Provisional data dating back to 1940 suggests Ireland had 21 % of its 1981-2010 Long term Average (LTA) rainfall in July 2023.
July 2023 also had more than four times the amount of rain observed in July 2022 and more than twice that observed in July 2021.
The previous wettest July was in 2009 with 202% of the LTA.
Over the past 12 months, Ireland had its wettest October on record in 2022, its wettest March on record earlier this year and now its wettest July on record.
Seventeen primary weather stations have had over 200% of their LTA, with twelve stations having their wettest July on record in 2023, including:
Phoenix Park, Co Dublin (length 82 years) with 149.1 mm (271% of its LTA)
Shannon Airport, Co Clare (length 77 years) with with 155.0 mm (235% of its LTA)
Malin Head, Co Donegal (length 68 years) with 192.6 mm (238% of its LTA)
Belmullet, Co Mayo (length 66 years) with 148.5 mm (187% of its LTA)
Dunsany, Co Meath (length 59 years) with 184.5 mm (300% of its LTA)
Moore Park, Co Cork (length 59 years) with 150.1 mm (242% of its LTA)
Athenry, Co Galway (length 33 years) with 224.1 mm (259% of its LTA)
Ballyhaise, Co Cavan (length 31 years) with 154.7 mm (210% of its LTA)
Knock Airport, Co Mayo observed 37 consecutive Rain Days (0.2 mm or more) ending on Sunday, July 23. There was also up to 15 consecutive Wet Days (1.0 mm or more) at Dunsany, Co Meath, Malin Head, Co Donegal (ended Sunday 23 July) and Claremorris, Co Mayo (ended Friday 7 July).
Provisionally, the highest daily rainfall total of July 2023 from the 25 primary weather stations was 41.6 mm at Dunsany, Co Meath on Saturday 22nd, followed closely by 41.2 mm at Oak Park, Co Carlow on Monday 10th. Provisionally from the automatic weather stations, Raphoe, Co Donegal had 76.4 mm of rainfall, also on Saturday 22nd, which led to flash flooding in the area. The highest daily total from the previous wettest July in 2009 was 68.5 mm at Caherkirby, Co Cork.