2022 was the warmest year in record for Ireland

The island saw more sunshine and less rain, as well as five named rain storms

Today, the Irish meteorological services, also known as Met Éireann, announced that 2022 was the warmest year on record. According to the service, this year was 0.6 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous warmer year of 2007.

Considering the new data, Met Éireann said that the average temperature was 10.83 degrees. Additionally, the highest temperature of the year was recorded in Phoenix Park in Dublin on 18 July. The temperature was 33 degrees, the highest recorded value on the island since 1887.

Less rain and more sunshine

Nine weather stations reported the warmest year since 2007, while a further 10 reported their highest daily temperatures on record in July and August. Heatwave conditions were reported at seven stations between 9 and 14 August, lasting between 5 and 6 days.

Additionally, authorities report below-average rainfall, coupled with five named rainstorms affecting the island. At the same time, the sunshine totals were above the long-term average. The weather station at Casement Aerodrome in County Dublin reported 54 days of sunshine in the year, its highest on record.

Moreover, the highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this year was 16.1 hours at Malin Head, County Donegal on 4 June. The number of dry days ranged from 65 days at Dublin Airport to 94 days at Belmullet, County Mayo. Overall, however, Met Éireann claims that the Irish East is the sunnier part of the island.

On the other end of the spectrum, the number of days when it rained ranged from 183 days at Dublin Airport to 273 at Malin Head. The number of wet days ranged from 125 at both Oak Park, County Carlow and Dublin Airport, to 203 days at Newport, County Mayo.

There were 47 separate dry periods (absolute droughts, partial droughts and dry spells) observed in Ireland during 2022. Of these, 42 were marked as dry spells at 21 weather stations and five were absolute droughts, according to five stations.