It has been said that you don’t go to Ireland for the weather, however Ireland can experience its fair share of sunshine as much as rain! The climate in Ireland is very much influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and the southwesterly winds that come in from the Atlantic Ocean. It is fair to say that the Irish weather is very unpredictable.
In this article we take a closer look at the Irish weather and just what to expect! For further details please read on…
Ireland is no stranger to the rain, like it or not it has its advantages as it contributes to Ireland’s wonderful forty shades of green, stunning scenery, dramatic skies and amazing rainbows! It is fair to say that some days you can experience all four seasons in just one day! Last year Ireland experienced one of the wettest summers on record, this year thankfully has proven much better so far!
The West of Ireland experiences a lot more rain than the east coast or the ‘Sunny South East’ as it is referred to, however the east of the country can be a bit cooler. Cities in Ireland are normally a few degrees higher than the surrounding areas as they are more built up, and they can be pretty extreme when temperatures increase. During the winter month’s snowstorms are a rare occurrence but hail is a frequent sight during the winter months and also during spring.
The months of May and June are normally the sunniest months of the year enjoying about five and seven hours of sunlight each day. Listed are the sunrise and sunset hours for the year in Ireland.
January: Sunrise 8:41 am; Sunset 4:16 pm
February: Sunrise 8:11 am; Sunset 5:07 pm
March: Sunrise 7:14 am; Sunset 6:02 pm
April: Sunrise 7:00 am; Sunset 8:00 pm
May: Sunrise 5:52 am; Sunset 8:54 pm
June: Sunrise 5:03 am; Sunset 9:43 pm
July: Sunrise 5:01 am; Sunset 9:57 pm
August: Sunrise 5:40 am; Sunset 9:21 pm
September: Sunrise 6:33 am; Sunset 8:16 pm
October: Sunrise 7:26 am; Sunset 7:03 pm
November: Sunrise 7:23 am; Sunset 4:53 pm
December: Sunrise 8:17 am; Sunset 4:10 pm
Summer temperatures that exceed 30°C (86°F) are usually once or twice every decade and freezes occur only occasionally in winter, with temperatures below -5°C (23°F) being very uncommon.
Listed is an estimate of the temperatures in Ireland throughout the year:
January: 8 ºC - 46 ºF
February: 8 ºC - 46 ºF
March: 10 ºC - 50 ºF
April: 13 ºC - 55 ºF
May: 15 ºC - 59 ºF
June: 18 ºC - 64 ºF
July: 20 ºC - 68 ºF
August: 19 ºC - 66 ºF
September: 17 ºC - 63 ºF
October: 14 ºC - 57 ºF
November: 10 ºC - 50 ºF
December: 8 ºC - 46 ºF
The weather in Ireland can be summed up as being mild, moist and very changeable with alot of rainfall and a lack of temperature extremes. It is advisable that whatever time of year you plan to visit Ireland, ensure you bring an umbrella and raingear. During the winter months warm clothing is essential and during the summer months light raingear and sun factor are a must. Pack wisely and get out and about and enjoy what Ireland has to offer whatever the weather!
Met Éireann is the Irish National Meteorological Service in Ireland, for further details on the weather in Ireland, statistics and much more check out the Met Éireann website.
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Have you other suggestions and tips you would like to share with our readers? When did you travel to Ireland and what was the weather like? Please feel free to leave a comment in the comment box below. Thank you.
