July 'warmest month for 17 years'
July was the warmest month in most parts of Ireland for around 17 years, Met Éireann revealed today.
Record high temperatures were set at three stations: Clones, Co Cavan, Baldonnel, west Dublin and Belmullet on the west coast of Co Mayo.
The warmest day of the year so far was July 19 at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, which recorded a high of 31C, the highest ever at the station since records began there in 1964.
But despite the blistering heatwave, the record of 33.3C set at Kilkenny Castle in June 1887 remains intact.
Peter Lennon, from Met Éireann’s climate division, said the whole country experienced very high daily temperatures and some of the warmest weather for over a decade.
“July was the warmest month in most stations for around 11 to 17 years and the warmest on record in Clones and Belmullet – and their records go back around 50 years,” he said.
Mr Lennon said according to figures recorded to date, July was the sunniest month at most stations for 16-17 years.
Rainfall in most parts of the country was very low and continued the dry conditions experienced during June.
Between July 9-27 there was no measurable rainfall recorded in the east and south, Met Éireann said.
In Dublin during June and July only 30% of normal rainfall has fallen.
