In the previous month, residents of the north and northwest regions of Ireland contended with colder and damper climates than those residing in other Irish locales, as indicated by statistics from Met Éireann. A stark contrast was observed with Malin Head witnessing 29 days of rain, while Phoenix Park in Co Dublin saw barely half that amount, registering just 14 rain days. Rain days represent days where the rainfall measures 0.2mm or more.
Meteorologist Paul Moore emphasized the significant influence of geolocation on weather variation, indicating that even within a small nation like Ireland, one’s geographical location can considerably influence the local climate. He particularly underscored the stark environmental contrast between the northwest and southeast regions.
Moore went on to highlight that the long-standing climate pattern of increasingly warm and wet summers continues unabated, as evidenced from comparison of weather data across two separate thirty-year intervals. High humidity and frequent rainfall, according to Moore, are linked to low-pressure systems that seemed to concentrate primarily over the north and northwest, but gradually dissipated as they moved east and southeast.
The previous month marked the 35th hottest in Met Éireann’s 125-year record of temperatures. Overall, the average temperature for the month hovered around 15.5 degrees, notably higher than the long-term averages (LTA) for different periods: 0.2 degrees above the 1991-2020 LTA, 0.28 degrees above the 1981-2020 LTA, and 0.79 degrees above the 1961-1990 LTA.
In terms of rainfall, provisional data suggested that during the month, Ireland saw 114% or 117mm of its long-term average for the 1981-2010 period and 113% from the 1991-2020 period. Variable rainfall values were noted across the country, but the distribution was uneven, with the northwestern region being the wettest while drier conditions prevailed in the eastern and southern parts.
The lowest monthly rainfall recorded for the month was 36.6mm, which was equivalent to 50 per cent of the usual measures, observed at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin. In contrast, Belmullet, Co Mayo received noteworthy rainfall, a total of 208.1mm, constituting 204 per cent of their normal rate. This was identified as their rainiest August since 1992. Newport, Co Mayo set a significant record with a grand total of 257.5mm of rain, representing 194 per cent of its Long-Term Average (LTA). Not since 1985 had Newport experienced so much rain, making it the second rainiest August in their history.
There was a varied number of wet days across Ireland during the month. In Phoenix Park and Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin, there were eight such days. However, Athenry, Co Galway experienced a significantly higher figure with 25 wet days. Very wet days ranged from none in Moore Park, Co Cork, all the way up to 13 days in Newport, Co Mayo.
Moreover, Newport holds the record for the rainiest day of the month, recording a pour of 34.6mm on Sunday, August 4th. Malin Head, Co Donegal and Knock airport, Co Mayo also set records within their respective regions, experiencing their rainiest August to date with 181.3mm and 215.4mm respectively. The records span over 69 years and 28 years respectively.
Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin reported the month’s maximum temperature of 24.3 degrees on Sunday, August 11th. Meanwhile, the chilliest minimum air temperature of 3.5 degrees was recorded at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon on Saturday the 31st.
This document underwent revisions on the afternoon of the 4th of September, 2024 regarding a miscommunication stating that the entirety of Ireland experienced the second rainiest August ever recorded, while this label only fits Newport, Co Mayo. The inaccuracy resulted from an oversight during the editing phase.