It was warmer than normal virtually everywhere in Ireland with sunshine levels up on recent years this summer - and it was very dry in many places, according to weather statistics for June, July and August.
Met Eireann says rainfall levels for the summer were again below normal at most stations - with only around 75 per cent of normal rainfall in parts of the midlands, south and south-east. Throughout July and August some localised heavy and often thundery falls brought rainfall totals for the season to above normal at a few stations. And mean air temperatures were above normal for the sixth successive summer, while "sunshine totals" were up generally.
Rainfall levels for the season varied between 131 mm at Rosslare and 313 mm at Connaught Airport in Knock, Co Mayo. It was the driest summer since 1995 at most weather stations, but the wettest for seven and eight years at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, and Shannon, respectively. Much of the season's rain was showery, particularly during July and August, when thunderstorms produced heavy localised downpours.
During one of these, on July 27th, Shannon Airport measured 39 mm while more than 50 mm was recorded at other stations in the region.
Mean air temperatures for the season varied between 13.7 degrees at Connaught Airport and 16.2 degrees at Shannon. Temperatures were between half a degree and one degree above normal in most places. At no station was it as warm as in the summer of 1995, however.
Each of the summer months was warmer than normal, despite spells of relatively cool weather during June and July. The highest daytime temperatures at most stations were measured during short spells of hot weather in mid-June and late July: the highest value was recorded at Casement Aerodrome on June 18th, 27.6 degrees - its highest June temperature since records began there in 1964.
Sunshine levels for the season were above normal at most stations. Totals ranged from 432 hours of sunshine at Connaught Airport to 589 hours at Rosslare - with the percentage of normal values between 93 per cent of normal at Cork Airport and 114 per cent at Malin Head.
June was a dull month, says Met Eireann, but July and August were mostly sunny. The sunniest spell of weather at most stations was during the second half of July: Belmullet measured the highest daily value, 15.1 hours, on both July 21st and 22nd. Malin Head recorded the highest gust of the season, 56 knots (65 m.p.h.) on June 13th - its highest summer gust since 1989.
August was warm and sunny with spells of thundery rain. Again, nowhere was it as warm or sunny, however, as in 1995. The second half of the month was much sunnier than the first. Cloudy and humid conditions in the first two weeks resulted in some very warm, muggy nights, but the highest daytime temperatures were recorded during the final week.