April showers double the norm for this time of year

April lived up to its reputation as the “cruellest month”, being wetter and colder than normal almost everywhere.

Rainfall in the east was nearly double what it is normally with both Dublin airport and Casement Aerodrome experiencing their wettest April since 1998.

At Casement 94.7mms of rain fell, whereas the average for April is just over 50mm (two inches) of rain.

Casement’s highest temperature of the month was a mere 13.1 degrees, the lowest maximum since records began there in 1964.

Mean temperatures for April were all below average, with departures from normal up to 1 degree in parts of the southwest and midlands.

Yet sunshine totals were above normal everywhere with the highest percentage above the normal level experienced in the west and southwest.

Belmullet reported the sunniest April it had seen since 1974 (38 years), while stations in the Dublin area reported percentages above normal but it was the dullest area.