This spring was hotter and drier than usual, Met Éireann has found.
March, April and May experienced above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall, according to a report released on Friday.
March and April were very sunny months, but in contrast May was dull, it said.
March was the driest month, as high pressure to the east over mainland Europe kept Ireland on the warmer southern side of the jet stream, with the airflow between southerly and easterly.
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However, Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford recorded 41.5mm of rainfall on Wednesday, March 9th, its highest daily rainfall for spring on record.
The lowest air temperature for the season was recorded in March at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon. This station reported -5.7 degrees temperature, 8.3 degrees below its monthly long-term average, on Sunday, March 6th.
High pressure, mostly to the north of Ireland, continued to influence the weather throughout April. However, there were several periods where low pressure came from the west, bringing frontal rain or showers. High pressure to the north led to an easterly airflow for the final third of the month.
May was a warm, relatively dry month overall, with a lot of cloud. The airflow was mostly between southerly and westerly, coming off the Atlantic where sea surface temperatures were above normal.
Bands of rain or showers also spread across the country during May, making it rainier than the previous two months.
The hottest air temperature for the season was 21 degrees at Shannon Airport in Co Clare, which was five degrees above its monthly long-term average. This was recorded on Saturday, May 28th.
Casement Aerodrome in Co Dublin received the most sunshine in spring. In total, it got 556 hours of sun over the three months, with a daily average of six hours per day.
Belmullet in Co Mayo was the dullest weather station in the country. It received 497 hours of sun in total, with an average of 5.4 hours per day. Cork Airport recorded 15.2 hours of sun on Saturday May 28th; the most sun in a day out of all the weather stations.
Newport in Co Mayo was the wettest station this spring, with 259mm of rain recorded during the season, 78 per cent of its long-term average. Dublin Airport was the driest station, with 122mm of rainfall recorded over the past three months.