WINTER
(DECEMBER 2015, JANUARY 2016 & FEBRUARY 2016)
Wetter and milder than normal everywhere; six named storms
Temperature: all places report a mild winter
Nearly all seasonal mean air temperatures were above their Long-term Average (LTA) with largest
deviations from LTA in the East. February monthly mean air temperatures were the only month to report
below LTAs meaning February was cooler than December and January this season. Differences from
seasonal LTAs ranged from 0.1°C at Markree, Co Sligo (seasonal mean temperature of 5.7°C) to 1.5°C at
Dublin (Phoenix Park) which reported a seasonal mean temperature of 6.7°C and its warmest winter since
1998. Carlow (Oak Park) and remaining Dublin stations reported their warmest winter in eight and nine
years, respectively. Highest winter maxima were mainly recorded between Dec 17th and 19th with the
highest seasonal maximum of 16.0°C reported at Malin Head, Co Donegal on Dec 17th, its highest winter
maximum since 1955. The lowest winter temperatures were recorded during the last week in February with
the lowest air minimum reported at Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Feb 24th with -5.9°C while the season’s
lowest grass minimum was also reported on the same date at Carlow (Oak Park) with -10.4°C, its lowest
during winter for five years.
Rainfall: over half of stations report their wettest winter on record
All seasonal rainfall totals were all above their LTA rainfall, with double or more LTA rainfall reported in
parts of the South, East and southeast Midlands. Monthly rainfall totals were above their monthly LTAs
during all three months of winter. December reported the wettest conditions (compared to LTA) with over
300% of LTA reported in parts of the South. Seasonal percentage of LTA rainfall values ranged from
134% at Mace Head (seasonal rainfall total 514.2 mm) to 248% at Roche’s Point, Co Cork (seasonal rainfall
total 682.8 mm). Over half of stations reported their wettest on record with both Dublin Airport and
Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford reporting their wettest winter since they opened 74 years ago with rainfall
totals of 371.6 mm (202% of LTA) and 514.6 mm (178 % of LTA), respectively. Malin Head reported its
wettest winter on record since 1885 with a seasonal accumulation of 567.3 mm (176% of LTA) with
80.6 mm reported on Dec 5th, the season’s wettest day and the wettest day at the station since 1955.
Sunshine: sunniest winter day in 12 years at Cork Airport
Seasonal sunshine totals were lowest at Knock Airport, Co Mayo where 120.0 hours (daily mean 1.3 hrs,
81% of LTA) was reported while the highest seasonal sunshine was 194.5 hours (daily mean 2.1 hrs, 104%
of LTA) at Dublin Airport. Cork Airport reported the season’s sunniest day and its sunniest winter day in
12 years on Feb 24th with 9.7 hours of sunshine. The number of dull days1 ranged from 41 at Casement
Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 55 at Knock Airport.
Wind: Storm Frank brings season’s highest sustained winds
Seasonal mean wind speeds ranged from 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) at Fermoy (Moore Park), Co Cork to
19.1 knots (35.4 km/h) at Mace Head, Co Galway. There were six named storms; Desmond
(Dec 4th and 5th), Eva (Dec 23rd), Frank (Dec 29th and 30th), Gertrude (Jan 29th), Henry (Feb 1st) and
Imogen (Feb 7th and 8th). The season’s highest gust of 73 knots (135 km/h) was reported at both
Belmullet, Co Mayo on Dec 23rd (Storm Eva) and Sherkin Island, Co Cork on Feb 8th (Storm Imogen).
The highest 10-minute sustained mean wind speed was at Sherkin Island on Dec 30th (Storm Frank) with
55 knots (102 km/h).
EXTREME VALUES FOR WINTER AT SYNOPTIC STATIONS
Rainfall
Temperature
Sunshine
Highest seasonal total: 823.4 mm (178% of LTA) at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry
Lowest seasonal total: 355.5 mm (184% of LTA) at Dublin (Phoenix Park)
Highest daily rainfall: 80.6 mm at Malin head, Co Donegal on Dec 5th (its wettest day since 1955)
Highest seasonal mean temperature: 8.6°C (0.9°C from LTA) at Sherkin Island, Co Cork
Lowest seasonal mean temperature: 5.0°C (0.8°C from LTA) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo
Highest air temperature: 16.0°C at Malin Head, Co Donegal on Dec 17th (its highest winter maximum since 1955)
Lowest air temperature: -5.9°C at Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Feb 24th
Lowest grass minimum temperature: -10.4°C at Carlow (Oak Park) on Feb 24th (its lowest winter grass minimum since 2010)
Highest seasonal total: 194.2 hrs (daily mean 2.1 hrs, 104% of LTA) at Dublin Airport
Lowest seasonal total: 120.0 hrs (daily mean 1.3 hrs, 81% of LTA) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo
Highest daily sunshine: 9.7 hrs at Cork Airport on Feb 24th (its highest winter daily sunshine since 2004)
WINTER RAINFALL (% OF LTA)
Athenry, Co Galway
Ballyhaise, Co Cavan
Belmullet, Co Mayo
Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin
Claremorris, Co Mayo
Cork Airport
Dublin Airport
Dunsany, Co Meath
Finner, Co Donegal
Gurteen, Co Tipperary
Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford
Knock Airport, Co Mayo
Mace Head, Co Galway
Malin Head, Co Donegal
Markree, Co Sligo
Fermoy (Moore Park), Co Cork
Mountdillon, Co Roscommon
Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Newport, Co Mayo
Oak Park, Co Carlow
Phoenix Park, Co Dublin
Roche’s Point, Co Cork
Shannon Airport, Co Clare
Sherkin Island, Co Cork
Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry
WINTER MEAN TEMPERATURE (°C) (DIFFERENCE FROM LTA)
Athenry, Co Galway
Ballyhaise, Co Cavan
Belmullet, Co Mayo
Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin
Claremorris, Co Mayo
Cork Airport
Dublin Airport
Dunsany, Co Meath
Finner, Co Donegal
Gurteen, Co Tipperary
Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford
Knock Airport, Co Mayo
Mace Head, Co Galway
Malin Head, Co Donegal
Markree, Co Sligo
Fermoy (Moore Park), Co Cork
Mountdillon, Co Roscommon
Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Newport, Co Mayo
Oak Park, Co Carlow
Phoenix Park, Co Dublin
Roche’s Point, Co Cork
Shannon Airport, Co Clare
Sherkin Island, Co Cork
Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry
WINTER SUNSHINE (NUMBER OF SEASONAL SUNSHINE HOURS)
Belmullet, Co Mayo*
Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin
Cork Airport
Dublin Airport
Knock Airport, Co Mayo
Malin Head, Co Donegal*
Shannon Airport, Co Clare
Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry*
Issued by the Climatology and Observations Division of Met Éireann on Wednesday, 2nd March 2016.
This report is based on available preliminary data from 25 principal weather stations operated by Met Éireann.
Long-Term Averages (LTAs) and “average” refer to the period 1981-2010. Synoptic station data is midnight to midnight UTC.
*Sunshine data is from the Autosol Network. LTAs for these sites are currently not used for comparison purposes.
1 A dull day is a day with less than 0.5 hours of sunshine
For more information, contact Met Éireann at 01-8064200 or e-mail: [email protected]