The Met Éireann station at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Co Dublin, has reported a period of "absolute drought" from July 9th to July 23rd, writes Hélène Hofman
Absolute drought occurs when there is no more than 0.1mm of rainfall for a minimum of 15 consecutive days.
Overall, only 6.8mm of rain has fallen at Baldonnel this month, which is less than 10 per cent of the amount that fell in July of last year (78.5 mm) and 14 per cent of the average rainfall for the period from 1961-1990.
Most of the country has experienced less than half the normal rainfall for July. Average temperatures are also between one and three degrees higher than for July of last year.
Dublin airport is the driest part of the country behind Casement Aerodrome. Since the start of the month there has been 11mm of rainfall, which is 13 per cent of the rainfall for July 2005 (83.4mm) and 22 per cent of the average rainfall (50mm).
Belmullet, Co Mayo, was the only Met Éireann station to report an increase in rainfall on last July. There has been 40.7mm of rainfall there this month, compared with 32.3mm last year. However, this month's figure is below the average rainfall of 67.5mm.
Almost half of the average temperatures for July so far are available. Of these, the highest average temperature of 17.3 degrees was recorded at Casement Aerodrome, where the normal temperature for July is 14.9 degrees. Average temperatures for July in Kilkenny and Shannon airport, where some of this year's highest temperatures of 30.1 and 30.2 degrees, respectively, were recorded on Wednesday, are not yet available. The lowest average temperature of 15.8 degrees for July so far was recorded at Malin Head, Co Donegal.
The Friends of the Elderly charity have encouraged family and neighbours to check on elderly people regularly. The group says that older people are at "high risk" as the heat can aggravate existing conditions such as diabetes and heart and lung diseases.
Wicklow Fire Service says the hot, dry weather has led to an increase in the severity of gorse and forest fires in the area. A spokesperson said fires were common at this time of year and there were currently about one or more a day, but weather conditions meant the flames were spreading faster than usual and taking longer to extinguish.
Yesterday the fire services took several hours to extinguish a gorse fire in Arklow which was spotted at lunch time. It was the second seaside gorse and bush fire in south Wicklow in a week. A large tract of headland beside the beach at Johnstown South, three miles from Arklow town, was reduced to ashes. Last week holiday homes and caravans at Brittas Bay had to be evacuated as a fire swept through gorse and bush. At 5pm yesterday evening Arklow firemen were again back on duty dealing with another fire.
Yesterday afternoon there was a small gorse fire in Dublin's Phoenix Park near the cricket ground. It was quickly extinguished.