APRIL WAS the driest and warmest on record in many places, but the glorious weather is not set to continue. Temperatures were on average 3 degrees above normal for the time of year in many parts of the country.
The warmest temperatures were experienced on the western seaboard. Both Valentia Station in Co Kerry – 2.8 degrees above normal – and Malin Head – 3.1 degrees above normal – had the warmest April in more than 100 years.
Shannon airport, with a mean temperature of 3.2 degrees above normal, had the warmest April since records began there in 1945.
The station also recorded the highest temperature of the month, 22.7 degrees on April 21st.
After a wet start, the rest of April was exceptionally dry. There has been no significant rainfall since April 13th and no prolonged wet spell for a month. As a result soil moisture deficits are similar to those experienced in a hot summer, according to Met Éireann forecaster John Eagleton.
He said soil moisture deficits in the north, east and west of the country were running at between 20mm and 40mm. It would take between an inch and two inches of continuous rain to return the soil to average moisture content for the time of year.
It is turning out to be an exceptionally dry year with January and March also much drier and sunnier than normal.
Mr Eagleton said growth was “way ahead” as a result of the fine weather, but the ground was starting to show signs of stress as a result of the prolonged dry spell.
Farmers, however, are not complaining. An IFA spokesman said the fine weather has helped with calving, lambing and planting.
Everywhere across the country had a sunnier than normal April. Belmullet in Co Mayo had the sunniest April day on record last Friday, April 29th, when 14.1 hours were recorded.
Rainfall levels were below normal except in Belmullet (133 per cent above), Claremorris (146 per cent above) and Malin Head (115 per cent). Rain, however, is on its way.
Rainfall will be above average in Munster, and an inch of rain is likely to fall over the rest of the country in the next week.
Tomorrow will stay mostly cloudy with outbreaks of heavy rain, accompanied by fresh southeast winds and hill mist. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be mostly cloudy, with rain forecast for all areas on Saturday night.
