Coldest August in capital for 25 years

IT HAS been the coldest August in Dublin for a quarter of a century.

But while August was dull, it appears not to have been too wet. Rainfall was down on the average, by up to 20 per cent.

Data from Met Éireann to be released today confirms it has been a very poor summer.

Met Éireann meteorologist Ruth Coughlan said the “Poulter Index” – a method of quantifying summer weather – showed the summer was “below average”.

The index, which uses averages hours of sunshine, rainfall and average temperatures to compare summers, confirmed what every home holidaymaker already knew: the summer was frequently dull and cold.

Air temperatures recorded at Shannon in August were the lowest since 1962, while at Valentia they were the lowest since 1972.

Dublin’s Phoenix Park and Casement Aerodrome both recorded the coldest air temperatures since 1986, while Dublin airport recorded the coldest air temperature for August ever.

Ms Coughlan said the Dublin airport data should be treated with some caution as the weather station there has been moved twice in its lifetime. Adjusted, she said it would concur with Phoenix Park and Casement Aerodrome.

Fortunately rain is something on which Ireland can rely. In Britain the north midlands endured a dry spell for most of the summer, with difficult conditions for growing vegetables.