SMALL PRINT:AFTER A WARM April, we were convinced this would be a tropical summer. But shockingly (to anyone who has never looked out the window in Ireland), that never happened.
Every year, a conveyor belt of experts and long-range forecasters make prophecies on what summer is going to be like. But now that summer is drawing to a close, who was wrong, who was right and, crucially, who can we trust?
The two long-range forecasts that get the most attention are weather website Irish Weather Online, by Peter O’Donnell, and New Zealand “moon reader” Ken Ring. O’Donnell said he didn’t expect a major heatwave – so he got that one right at least. Ring, who publishes weather almanacs for Ireland, predicted July to be the warmest month, with two hot fortnights in both May and September.
May Prediction: Ring predicted one warm fortnight, which was fairly accurate for the east of the country.
Reality: Unsettled, warm, wet, windy, and dull in the south.
June Prediction:Ring said June would be the wettest month of the year apart from December.
Reality: Unsettled, wet, lots of sunshine earlier on in the month that faded.
July Prediction: Irish Weather Online said late July would see prolonged hot spells and storms. Ring also said July would be hot.
Reality: Dull, cool, and some of the lowest temperatures recorded in July in decades.
August Prediction: Irish Weather Online predicted average temperatures and a risk of severe drought in some places.
Reality:Unsettled, wet, cooler than normal, especially to wards late August.
And the future?Well, WeatherGossip.com is currently predicting a "very cold" Irish September. Great.
