The preceding spring in Ireland was the second warmest ever recorded, despite wetter and gloomier weather than typically observed. It uniquely marked only the fourth instance in history where the overall spring temperature surpassed 10 degrees. The previous instances of such warm springs occurred in 1945, 2017, and 2023. The spring of 1945 still holds the top spot for the warmest spring, with an average temperature of 10.26 degrees.
This pattern of warmer than average seasons in Ireland has now been observed for the twelfth season straight, aligning with scientist evidence suggesting a warming world due to climate change. The eminent Met Éireann climatologist, Paul Moore, stated that Ireland’s warming rates parallel global trends, and temperatures are regularly exceeding the historical seasonal averages from 1961-1990. This spring, for instance, saw temperatures 1.75 degrees higher than the established baseline for this average period in Ireland.
Some of Met Éireann’s stations, including the one in Dublin’s iconic Phoenix Park, documented their highest ever temperatures this spring. The Phoenix Park station boasts an impressive 125 years of weather records.
However, the spring of 2024 was not an entirely joyful season. It was the sixth wettest ever recorded, and is unlikely to be fondly remembered. The North Atlantic’s sustained high sea surface temperatures spiked the atmospheric moisture content, thereby leading to increased precipitation. A southward jet stream shift in March and occasionally in April directed numerous low pressure systems over Ireland or to its southern parts, causing uneven rainfall distribution. The Midlands, South, and East experienced a wet spring, whereas the Northwest was quite dryer than average.
Many agriculturalists were under pressure to sow their crops before the arriving arid spell in mid-April. Areas like Moore Park in County Cork, and Johnstown Castle in County Wexford, experienced their wettest spring since 1981. Seasonal rainfall percentages fluctuated between 85% (a total seasonal rainfall of 218.2mm) at Finner, County Donegal, and 167% (a total seasonal rainfall of 363.4mm) at Johnstown Castle.
Rainfall totals during the season spanned from 188.4mm at Casement Aerodrome, Dublin – equating to 117% of the long-term norm, to a high of 421.0mm at Valentia Observatory, Kerry, which was 134% of its consistent average.
Record-breaking heat made May the warmest ever seen in Ireland, as well as globally. It also marked the twelfth successive month of unprecedented global warmth.
Throughout the nation, the average temperatures overshot their habitual levels for the month. The discrepancy from the usual monthly temperature stretched from a 1.1-degree increase (resulting in a mean temperature of 12.7 degrees) at Mace Head, Galway to a high of 2.9 degrees (for a total mean temperature of 13.6 degrees) at Phoenix Park, Dublin – setting its record for the warmest May.
Mount Dillon, Roscommon recorded the peak temperature of the month on Monday 20th with a reading of 24.6 degrees. Furthermore, three meteorological stations documented the highest average maximum temperature for May in their records, while the highest average minimum for the same month was recorded at fourteen stations. Such data confirms that the night temperatures during May 2024 were particularly high, leading to an increase in the overall average temperatures.