July was “cold, wet and windy everywhere” with some weather stations recording historically miserable conditions, Met Éireann has confirmed.
Monthly air temperatures were 1 degree lower than the long-term average in most areas while Markree, Co Sligo, and Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, recorded mean temperatures 2.1 degrees below average, their coldest Julys in seven and eight years respectively.
Claremorris, Co Mayo, had a monthly mean temperature of 13.1 degrees, its coldest July since 1965 and its third coldest July since records began in 1950.
Other stations at Cork Airport; Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford; Mullingar, Co Westmeath and Shannon Airport all reported their coldest July since 1988.
The start of July got the predominant share of whatever good weather there was with the month’s highest temperature (23.8 degrees) recorded at Mountdillon, Co Roscommon, on the 1st.
The majority of minimums were between the 24th and 28th, with the month’s lowest temperature also reported at Mountdillon on the 24th (3.1 degrees).
Dublin Airport’s lowest minimum of 3.9 degrees on July 15th was its lowest temperature on record since the station opened in 1942.
Two stations reported ground frost, Mullingar on the 9th and Athenry on the 25th.
Rainfall
All monthly rainfall stations had above average rainfall for July. Long-term average values were highest in the south with Cork Airport reporting 158.8 mm of rain, its wettest July since 2009.
Belmullet enjoyed the sunniest day of the month, basking in 14 hours of sunshine on July 5th. Monthly sunshine totals ranged from 81.4 hours at Knock Airport, Co Mayo, to 145.2 hours at Cork Airport.
The majority of monthly mean wind speeds were the highest for July in five to 27 years with Shannon Airport reporting a monthly mean wind speed of 10.8 knots (20 km/h), its highest for July since 1974.
Galeforce winds were reported on the 17th, 18th and 26th in the north and west. Both the month’s highest 10-minute mean wind speed and month’s highest gust were reported at Malin Head on the 17th with 42 knots (77km/h) and 57 knots (105km/h) respectively.
This was its highest gust for July in five years with its 10-minute wind speed the highest recorded during July since 1988.
