Monthly
y Weather
Bulletin
No. 178
FEBRUARY 2001
INSIDE
Wind &
Elements .......... 4
Marine &
Pressur
e .......... 5
Pressure
Agmet /Lab
/Lab....... 6
Diary ............... 8
R ainfall
ainfall ........... 10
Tempera
emperature
ture ... 12
Sunshine ........ 14
Another sunny
month everywhere
World
.. 15
orld Weather
eather..
T he Wea
ther
Weather
of Winter ......... 16
A winter scene from Caherconree in the Sliabh Mish range in County Kerry.
(picture courtesy Tony O Callaghan)
SUNNY AND MOSTLY DRY;
COLD SPELL AT END OF MONTH
Summary: The early part of February
was unsettled, with wet and at times
windy weather, but it was also mild.
High pressure around mid-month
produced dry and fairly calm
conditions but frost was widespread
Coldest Winter for
10 years in places under clear skies. Very cold northerly
winds over the country during the
final week brought some heavy
Produced by
Met Éireann,
snowfalls in places, leading to
Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9.
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disruption of both power supplies
For more informationand transport. Overall the mild
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weather early in the month was
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balanced by the later cold and at
Notes on the tables and map
showing location of stations
times frosty weather, so that mean
appear in each January issue
temperatures for the month were
close to normal everywhere. Similarly,
after wet weather early on, the second
half of the month was fairly dry and
rainfall totals were near normal in
many places, but most midland and
western counties received less than
their February normals. Sunshine
totals were above normal and it was
the sunniest February for at least 5
years. There were spells of very sunny
weather around the middle of the
month and again during the final
week; Kilkenny, Clones and Cork
Airport measured their highest ever
daily sunshine values for February at
the end of the month.
2
Below
Snow was heavy in
places on the 26th
and 27th, especially in
the north and east
(see map on page 3).
Pictured here is the
snow-covered St
Stephen s Green in
Dublin on the 27th.
(picture Irish Times)
WEATHER
1st to 11th: Unsettled, with a succession of
Atlantic weather systems bringing cloudy,
wet weather. Rain fell on almost every day
in the period, but it was also generally mild
with little frost. An exception was a brief
spell of colder weather after a frontal
trough with heavy rain cleared southwards
on the 7th to give a dry, cold day on the
8th. Southwesterly winds associated with
deep Atlantic depressions reached gale
force on both the 6th and 10th.
12th to 21st: Ireland was under the
influence of a large anticyclone, or area of
high pressure, giving mainly dry, settled
conditions with light winds. Clear weather
at first during this spell gave very sunny
days but frost became widespread and
severe in places, with some freezing fog
inland. Later in the period, weak fronts
brought increased cloud with widespread
fog and drizzle, but rainfall amounts were
small.
22nd to 28th: High pressure moved away
westwards as a cold front introduced a
northerly airstream over Ireland. The
weather became progressively colder as
scattered showers turned increasingly
wintry. A depression to the north of the
country on the 26th moved into the Irish
Sea on the 27th, bringing a spell of snow
in the northern half of the country and
along the east coast; gale force northerly
winds brought blizzard conditions in
places.
Mean windspeeds for the month were
below normal everywhere and were the
lowest for February for up to 36 years at
Valentia Observatory. They varied between
7 and 11 knots (8 and 13m.p.h.) generally,
up to 17 knots (20m.p.h.) at Malin Head.
The strongest winds at most stations were
recorded on the 6th, with the highest gust,
64 knots (74m.p.h.), measured at Cork
Airport on this day, the strongest February
gust at the station since 1990. Snow fell in
the period 4th to 8th, on the 24th and
particularly between the 26th and 27th,
when it was widespread and heavy in
places (see page 3). Hail showers were
observed in the periods 3rd to 8th and
23rd to 28th, with thunder on the 6th,
26th and 28th. Fog became widespread
around the middle of the month,
especially in the period 19th to 21st.
3
WEATHER
1st - 11th:
Radar rainfall
chart for
0900UTC on 5th
Atlantic weather
systems were the
main influence,
bringing mild and
wet weather with
gales at times
Tr
0.1
0.2
Synoptic chart for 1200UTC on 5th
0.6
mm/hour
1.5
3.7
12th - 21st:
High pressure
to the east or south
of Ireland gave dry,
fairly calm weather
with variable cloud.
Frost was severe
at times.
5
10 5
2
5
5
10
20
10
5
2
10
5
2
2
5
Visible satellite image at 1200UTC on 13th
Snow Depths (cm) at
0900UTC on 27th
26th - 28th:
Bitterly cold
northerly winds
brought falls of
snow, heaviest in
the north and
east; 75cm of
level snow was
measured in the
Mourne Mountains
on the 27th.
(Northern Ireland
data kindly supplied
by Belfast Weather
Office)
Synoptic chart for 1800UTC 26th
Visible satellite image at 1200UTC on 26th
4
WIND & ELEMENTS
County /
Station
CO. CLARE
SHANNON AIRPORT
CO. CORK
CORK AIRPORT
CO. DONEGAL
MALIN HEAD
CO. DUBLIN
CASEMENT AERODROME
DUBLIN AIRPORT
CO. KERRY
VALENTIA OBSERVATORY
CO. KILKENNY
KILKENNY
CO. MAYO
BELMULLET
CONNAUGHT AIRPORT
CO. MONAGHAN
CLONES
CO. OFFALY
BIRR
CO. WESTMEATH
MULLINGAR II
CO. WEXFORD
ROSSLARE
ELEEMEENTS
WIND (KNOTS)
Mean
speed
Max. 10-min. mean
dir. speed date/hour
Max. Gust
dir. speed date/time
8.1
200° 32
6/12
330° 48 26/1320
0
5
35
2
0
0
0
9
9.5
220° 39
6/12
220° 64
6/1011
1
7
52
4
0
0
1
11
020° 45 26/20
020° 45 27/08
020° 58 27/0815
8
16
177
7
0
5
0
2
9.4
9.7
190° 39
210° 35
6/14
6/17
190° 54
210° 51
6/1232
6/1346
2
1
4
7
39
48
4
5
2
2
0
1
0
0
6
3
8.5
210° 41
6/08
210° 59
6/0751
1
6
62
1
0
2
0
4
6.9
200° 34
6/11
360° 52 27/1325
1
3
29
020° 57 27/0652
2
10
103
3
0
8
0
1
9.2
360° 38 26/21
020° 38 27/09
190° 37 6/13
190° 59
6/1223
1
6
51
7
3
2
0
17
7.4
170° 30
6/16
170° 46
6/1431
0
5
18
1
7.1
200° 30
6/14
200° 48
6/1336
0
4
18
1
6.7
200° 28
6/13
220° 45
6/1513
0
3
12
1
360° 60 27/1134
2
9
97
2
0
6
17.2
11.8
11.0
360° 39 27/12
Days with
Hours with
gales gale gusts gale gusts
Valentia Observatory
Calm: 1.5%
Calm: 0.1%
NE
W
S
2
0
N
NE
E
W
SE
SW
1
NW
E
Fog
Dublin Airport
N
NW
No. of Days with
Snow Snow Lying Hail Thunder
SE
SW
0 1 2 3 4%
FREQUENCY OF WIND DIRECTION
S
5
MARINE & PRESSURE
SEA TEMPERATURES
As usual during February, sea temperatures fell by between one and two degrees during the month. They
ranged from close to 8°C in the northeast to over 10°C off the southwest coast around mid-month; while
close to normal in the north, they were a little higher than normal in the south. At Malin Head the mean
sea temperature for the month of 6.8°C was almost exactly normal.
Wave Direction
10°W
Degrees from North
360
5°W
9°
55°N
300
8°
200
100
0
Significant Wave Height
10
10°
Height (m)
8
6
8°
4
2
0
Period
Period (seconds)
15
9°
10
10°
6
1
5
10
15
20
DATE
25
28
Wave conditions at 52.5°N, 12°W based on WAM model
MEAN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Mean sea level pressure values for the month were
above normal everywhere, by around 4hPa generally.
They ranged from just under 1016hPa in the north
to over 1017hPa in the south. As the graph below
shows, high pressure dominated the middle part of
the month, but there were some very low values
recorded during the first week. Belmullet measured
the lowest pressure of the month, 958.9hPa on the
6th, the lowest February value at the station since
1990. In contrast, the highest pressure of the month,
1044.9hPa at Dublin Airport on the 17th, was the
highest February value there since 1965.
5°W
10°W
Sea Temperatures (°C) around miid-m
month
101
L
1004
6
70˚N
L
1011
60˚N
1016
6
101
50˚N
40˚N
H
1024
The above map is based on monthly means of 1200 UTC values
1050
1040
1030
1020
1010
1000
990
980
970
960
--•-- Valentia Observatory
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
—•— Malin Head
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Mean daily M.S.L. pressure (hPa)
6
AGMET / LABORATORY
Mean 10cm
Soil Temperatures (°C)
at 0900UTC
Soil Temperatures at 0900UTC
3.9
(+0.1)
(difference from 1961-90 normals
in brackets)
4.7
3.3
(-0.1)
(0.0)
2.5
4.0
(+0.4)
6.0
(+0.6)
3.5
(+0.4)
3.4
(-0.1)
3.8
(+0.2)
4.7
(+0.3)
4.9
(+0.3)
4.6
(+0.3)
-4/-2
-3/-3
-3/1
-5/1
-4/6
-6/3
-6/6
-6/4
Soil Moisture Deficits (mm)
10th of month / End of month
-5/-2
-10/-2
(0 represents field capacity,
-10 saturation)
electrical conductivity (μS/cm)
-10/2
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
-8
PRECIPITATION
pH and electrical conductivity are not available on dry days (<0.3mm)
-7
pH
-6
-5
-4
-3
AIR
m m m
SO2-S
n n n
SO4-S
lll
(μgs/m3)
10cm
CO. CLARE
SHANNON AIRPORT
CARRON
CO. CORK
FERMOY (MOORE PARK)
CORK AIRPORT
SHERKIN ISLAND
BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD)
CO. DONEGAL
MALIN HEAD
CO. DUBLIN
DUBLIN AIRPORT
CASEMENT AERODROME
CO. KERRY
VALENTIA OBSERVATORY
CO. KILKENNY
KILKENNY
CO. LEITRIM
BALLINAMORE
CO. LIMERICK
MOUNT RUSSELL
CO. LOUTH
ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE)
CO. MAYO
BELMULLET
STRAIDE
CONNAUGHT AIRPORT
CO. MEATH
WARRENSTOWN
CO. MONAGHAN
CLONES
CO. OFFALY
BIRR
CO. TIPPERARY
FETHARD (PARSONSHILL)
CO. WATERFORD
DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA)
CO. WESTMEATH
MULLINGAR II
CO. WEXFORD
JOHNSTOWN CASTLE
ROSSLARE
CLONROCHE
JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK
3
NO2-N 2.5
°C
County/
Station
2
20cm
30cm
4.7
4.4
5.6
6.1
5.2
4.9
4.6
6.7
4.2
5.3
5.4
5.0
5.8
6.7
7.5
5.7
3.9
4.6
5.9
3.7
3.4
4.2
4.3
4.9
5.0
6.0
6.3
7.3
3.8
4.5
4.9
3.4
4.0
4.7
4.1
4.9
3.8
4.1
4.2
4.7
3.5
2.5
5.4
6.4
3.4
3.9
3.3
3.8
4.1
3.3
4.1
4.4
4.0
4.9
5.4
3.9
4.6
5.3
6.0
3.5
3.9
4.5
4.0
4.9
4.1
4.4
4.8
5.7
3.9
5.2
5.4
7.2
5.6
6.3
Acid rain occurs when
pollutants combine with
moisture in the air to form
sulphuric or nitric acid. pH is
the simplest way of
measuring the acidity of
precipitation. Usually pH of
7.00 is considered neutral
but this is not the case in
rainfall samples. Pure water
in the atmosphere has an
equilibrium pH value of 5.65
at 20°C owing to carbon
dioxide in the air dissolving
to form carbonic acid. Any
value below pH 5.65 is
considered acid while any
value above is considered
alkaline.
Sulphur dioxide and
sulphate in air contribute to
the formation of sulphuric
acid; nitrate in air contributes
to the formation of nitric
acid.
1.5
1
0.5
0
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
Chemical Analysis of Precipitation and Air Samples
at Valentia Observatory
Conductivity measures the
total ion activity in the
rainfall, i.e. the higher the
conductivity the greater the
number of ions present.
7
AGMET
TEMPERATURE
-4.8
-3.3
-2.9
-4.8
9
13
24
9
2
3
4
9
23
21
13
57
2
1
1
4
-6.5
-4.8
-5.1
-6.5
9
13
24
9
Co. Donegal
Letterkenny
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
40.0
1.8
25.3
67.1
9
4
8
75 21
7
0
6
13
7.8
9.6
6.8
8.2
0.3
0.1
0.7
0.3
4.1
4.9
3.8
4.3 -0.1
-4.7
-4.7
-2.8
-4.7
9
17
24
17
4
4
5
13
13
19
10
42
1
1
0
2
-
-
Co. Kerry
Ardfert
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
46.2
7.9
7.5
61.6
-
8
4
3
15
7
3
3
13
9.8
10.5
8.1
9.6
2.0
3.8
0.9
2.3
5.9
7.2
4.5
6.0 0.2
-3.7
-1.1
-5.2
-5.2
8
16
28
28
2
1
4
7
24
31
14
69
2
1
0
4
-5.9
-4.3
-7.6
-7.6
Co. Leitrim
Ballinamore
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
46.3
5.4
10.6
62.3
9
5
6
70 20
8
2
3
13
7.4
9.1
7.1
7.9
-0.4
-1.1
0.7
-0.3
3.5
4.0
3.9
3.8 0.3
-6.1
-5.5
-3.5
-6.1
9
17
24
9
4
7
4
15
10
16
10
36
1
1
1
2
Co. Louth
Ardee
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
37.0
1.0
6.8
44.8
8
3
5
73 16
6
0
3
9
9.2
10.2
7.2
9.0
1.1
-0.7
-0.5
0.0
5.2
4.8
3.4
4.5 -0.1
-3.9
-5.1
-4.9
-5.1
9
18
24
18
5
7
5
17
19
21
11
50
Co. Waterford
Dungarvan
1-10 91.7
11-20 21.9
21-end
9.6
month 123.2
9
2
2
13
9.9
9.9
8.4
9.5
3.1
1.0
1.9
2.0
6.5
5.5
5.2
5.8 0.2
-3.9
-2.7
-2.4
-3.9
9
13
25
9
2
5
3
10
- 10 9
3 1
4 2
137 17 12
9.3
9.6
7.3
8.8
3.2
2.3
2.0
2.6
6.3
6.0
4.7
5.7 0.5
-1.9
-0.1
-0.7
-1.9
9
18
28
9
1
1
3
5
Co. Wexford
1-10 77.4
Johnstown Castle 11-20 19.9
21-end 12.6
month 109.9
-
MEASURED POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (P.E.)
AND SOIL MOISTURE
County/
Station
Period
P.E. (mm)
Amount
Soil Moisture (mm)
Deficit Accumulated Surplus
Deficit
Co. Dublin
Kinsealy
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
2.3
0.0
11.5
13.8
-
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
0.0
0.3
2.5
2.8
-
0
0
0
26
5
3
Co. Kerry
Valentia Obs.
0
0
0
69
21
16
Co. Leitrim
Ballinamore
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
8.7
0.0
5.3
14.0
-
0
0
0
38
7
5
Co. Wexford
Johnstown Castle
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
3.1
0.0
0.2
3.3
-
0
0
0
74
25
12
-
2.9
1.5
4.5
2.8
10
-
-
-
20.7 39.9 39.4 100.0
-
-
141
2.3
0.8
3.6
2.1
7
-
-
-
6.4 8.9 5.7 32.7 5.7 33.8 6.0 75.4
3.1
0.7
2.3
2.0
8
5.9 8.8 5.2 33.5 5.2 23.2 5.4 65.5 101
1.4
0.4
0.9
0.9
6
5
8
5
18
5.6
4.7
4.4
4.9
6.0
5.6
5.9
5.8
-
-
-
8
16
28
28
4
5
5
14
-
-
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10
20
28
28
0
0
0
0
3.4
3.1
3.6
3.4
4.4
4.6
5.1
4.7
21.7
34.4
36.1
92.2
1
2
1
4
-9.2
-9.2
-9.1
-9.2
9
18
26
18
8
9
8
25
4.0
3.1
4.3
3.8
4.3
3.9
4.5
4.2
-
27
21
16
64
2
1
1
4
-4.5
-3.6
-3.9
-4.5
9
13
25
9
2
6
3
11
-
23
22
12
57
1
0
1
2
-5.0
-3.7
-2.0
-5.0
9
18
24
9
2
6
4
12
4.7
3.5
3.6
4.0
% of average
total no. of hours
rain days
wet days
9
3
2
14
P.E. (Penman) (mm)
date
5.9
5.5
4.3
5.3 0.1
mean wind speed (m/s) 2m a.g.l.
lowest "grass-min."
2.2
1.3
0.7
1.5
mean 30cm at 0900h
degree days > 10.0°C
9.5
9.6
7.8
9.1
mean 10cm at 0900h
degree days > 4.4°C
9
2
2
13
days with ground frost
days with air frost
9
6
3
105 18
diff. from average
62.5
24.5
4.0
91.0
mean daily
1-10
11-20
21-end
month
mean min.
Co. Cork
Fermoy
mean max.
period
% of average
Station
date
SUNSHINE
lowest min.
RAINFALL
amount
10-DAY VALUES FOR SELECTED
AGROMETEOROLOGICAL
STATIONS
-
SEE BACK PAGE OF JANUARY ISSUE FOR NOTES ON THE DATA
County/
Station
month(mm)
GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION
P.E.
(MJ/sq. m.)
(Penman)
10-day totals
total for
1-10 11-20 21-end month
total for
Co.Donegal
Malin Head
31.03 55.39 41.33 127.75
27
Co.Dublin
Dublin Airport
38.42 61.74 48.06 148.22
14
Co Kerry
Valentia Obs.
39.11 42.03 57.31 138.45
18
Co.Kilkenny
Kilkenny
31.69 48.39 49.78 129.86
14
Co.Mayo
Belmullet
36.74 53.96 48.69 139.39
15
Co.Monaghan
Clones
34.73 59.50 46.79 141.02
13
Co.Offaly
Birr
36.69 55.37 47.55 139.61
13
8
DIARY
Thursday 1st: Weak fronts crossed the country during the day giving
outbreaks of rain or drizzle in all areas, followed later by a weak ridge.
Relatively mild throughout but some ground frost developed in midland areas
late in the day. Light to moderate south to southeast winds, veering west to
southwest with the clearance.
Thursday 8th: Some rain in southern counties at first, gradually moving away
southwards. Elsewhere clear periods with a sharp frost. Winds light to
moderate north to northwesterly. A sunny day everywhere except in the
southeast. Frost setting in early after dark and becoming sharp to severe before
midnight. Cold throughout.
Rainfall: 1 to 4mm generally
Temperature: max: 9°C to 12°C, min. 4°C to 6°C; ground temperatures near
or below zero inland
Rainfall: nil to 2mm
Temperature: max. 4°C to 7°C, min. -3°C to 2°C inland; ground temperatures
-5°C to -9°C inland
Sunshine: 5 to 8 hours generally, 1 to 4 hours in south and southeast
Sunshine: less than 1 hour generally; over 5 hours near west and southwest coasts
Friday 2nd: Ireland lay in a southwest to westerly airflow as a depression
passed to the north of Ireland. Mist or fog patches and some light rain or
drizzle at first, with heavier rain in the west by mid-afternoon, spreading to
eastern areas by end of day. Slight frost in the mid-west until the onset of rain.
Rainfall: 3 to 6mm generally; over 10mm near north and northwest coasts
Temperature: max. 8°C to 10°C, min. 4°C to 6°C; ground temperatures down
to -3°C in Kilkenny
Sunshine: nil to 1 hour
Saturday 3rd: Complex low to the northeast, with embedded fronts lying
along the east coast, maintaining a west to northwest airflow over Ireland.
Further fronts lying to the southwest of Ireland affected the country later in
the day. Clear spells in the northern half with just occasional showers along the
north coast. Mild everywhere.
Rainfall: trace to 1mm generally, 5mm to 10mm in the southwest
Temperature: max. 8°C to 10°C, min. 0°C to 5°C; ground temperatures down
to -6°C in Clones
Sunshine: nil to 1 hour in south, 3 to 5 hours elsewhere
Sunday 4th: A depression of 986hPa off the southwest coast moved slowly
east-northeastwards. Associated frontal troughs over Ireland were slowmoving. The day started with rain over the southern half of the country,
occasionally heavy. This gradually spread northeastwards to all areas, clearing
later to showers and also some mist and fog patches. Winds were strong and
gusty at first, particularly in the north, slackening later.
Rainfall: 4 to 12mm, heaviest in south and southeast
Temperature: max. 8°C to 10°C in southwestern half, 2°C to 6°C elsewhere,
min. 0°C to 5°C; slight ground frost in north
Sunshine: nil to 1 hour generally
Monday 5th: A frontal trough moved slowly northwards over the country
during the day while a more vigorous depression approached quickly from the
southwest with its associated front reaching the south coast late in the day.
Some scattered outbreaks of light rain overnight, turning heavier and more
widespread during the morning and falling as sleet or snow in parts of
Connacht and Ulster. After a brief clearance to bright spells and scattered
showers, further rain arrived in the southwest during the evening and moved
quickly northeastwards. Cold in the northern half of country, milder in the
south. Winds generally light variable but stronger in the extreme north.
Rainfall: 6 to 9mm generally, 11mm in Cork
Temperature: max. 8°C to 11°C generally but 2°C to 5°C in north and
northwest, min. 0°C to 6°C; ground temperatures near zero
Sunshine: trace to 3 hours generally
Tuesday 6th: A vigorous storm depression off the southwest coast tracked
northwards over the country, finally clearing the north coast by evening. Its
associated fronts gave heavy rain, clearing to showers, some heavy and
thundery. Very strong winds, mainly from a south to southwest direction,
reaching storm force at times, gusting over 60 knots. Showers became less
frequent by late evening as winds eased. Temperatures near normal.
Rainfall: 2mm to 7mm in east and midlands, 13mm to 23mm elsewhere
Temperature: max. 8°C to 10°C, min. 4°C to 7°C; ground temperatures 1°C
to 6°C
Sunshine: 0 to 4 hours, highest in the east
Friday 9th: A ridge of high pressure moved east across the country during
the first half of the day as an occluded front approached, reaching the west
coast during the evening. Very cold overnight with widespread air and ground
frost, with some freezing fog patches around dawn in inland areas. Cold and
dry everywhere during daylight hours with sunny spells in most areas. Rain
spread quickly eastwards after dark affecting all areas by end of day, persistent
and at times heavy in southern coastal counties. Winds light variable to begin
became fresh and gusty southerly during the evening.
Rainfall: 1 to 3mm generally, up to 15mm in south
Temperature: max. 6°C to 10°C, min. -4°C to 0°C; ground temperatures down to
-11°C in Kilkenny
Sunshine: 4 to 7 hours generally, 1 hour at Valentia Observatory
Saturday 10th: Frontal troughs crossed Ireland in a strong south to
southwest airflow. Widespread rain cleared early but returned around daybreak
and remained until mid-afternoon, heavy in places, with some thundery
activity off the west coast. Mostly dry for the remainder of the day. Very windy
from a south to southwest direction.
Rainfall: 4 to 8mm in most places, 13mm at Valentia
Temperature: max. 11°C to 13°C, min. 2°C to 10°C, warmest in southwest;
ground temperatures between 2°C and 5°C in most places with no frost
Sunshine: nil generally, 1 or 2 hours in the west and northwest
Sunday 11th: A strong southwesterly airflow persisted while a frontal trough
with waves, lying over the south of the country, intensified and moved slowly
northwards. Apart from the northwest there was widespread rain to begin,
dying out for a time and returning to some places later in the day. Winds were
fresh and gusty at first, becoming light.
Rainfall: 10 to 16mm in southern half, 0 to 5mm elsewhere
Temperature: max. 10°C to 12°C, min. 5°C to 7°C; ground temperatures 3°C to
6°C
Sunshine: nil or trace, 2 hours at Malin Head
Monday 12th: A frontal wave near the south coast moved away eastwards
during the morning and a northwest airflow developed as a ridge built from the
west. The day started with some heavy rain over the southern half of the
country; cloudy elsewhere with light southwesterly winds and some light
showers in the northwest. A sunny afternoon everywhere with frost developing
quickly after dark, sharp in all but northern areas.
Rainfall: nil or trace generally, 7 to 11mm in south and southeast
Temperature: max. 9°C to 11°C, min. -1°C to 4°C; ground temperatures down
to -6°C inland
Sunshine: 3 to 8 hours
Tuesday 13th: A high pressure area of 1039hPa to the southeast moved very
slowly eastwards and dominated the weather. Clear and very cold overnight
with widespread ground frost and some fog patches also, clearing to give a dry
sunny day almost everywhere. Frost setting in quickly later. Moderate and gusty
northwesterly winds near northern coasts but elsewhere light and variable.
Rainfall: nil or trace
Temperature: max. 8°C to 11°C, min. -3°C to 4°C; ground temperatures down
to -9°C in Kilkenny and Dublin
Sunshine: 4 to 9 hours
Wednesday 7th: The depression moved towards Scotland leaving Ireland in a
slack northerly airflow. Mist or fog at first. Rain or showers persistent and
heavy at first, particularly in the south, becoming scattered later. Cold
throughout with sharp to severe frost setting in by late evening.
Wednesday 14th: The anticyclone over England continued to drift
eastwards as a cold front in the Atlantic edged closer to Ireland. A clear,
very cold night with sharp to severe frost in most places. Mist or fog
lingered until late morning in the midlands. The day was again dry with
good sunny spells, becoming cloudier in the west with some drizzle by end
of day. Winds light southerly or variable, freshening in the northwest later.
Rainfall: nil to 2mm generally, 13 to 25mm near south and southeast coast
Temperature: max. 6°C to 9°C, min. -1°C to 5°C; ground temperatures down
to -6°C in Clones
Sunshine: nil to 1 hour in south and east, 3 to 6 hours elsewhere
Rainfall: nil or trace
Temperature: max. 8°C to 12°C, min. -4°C to 2°C inland, up to 7°C coastal;
ground temperatures down to -11°C in Dublin
Sunshine: 2 hours near west and southwest coasts, 6 to 9 hours generally
DIARY
Thursday 15th: A weak cold front over the southeast of Ireland cleared
southeastwards as an anticyclone built across the area from the west. A mostly
clear, cool night in the east, while outbreaks of rain and drizzle affected
western areas. The front brought only increased cloud with some light drizzle
to midland and eastern areas, but some heavier rain as it approached the south
coast. Skies cleared from the west by the end of the day.
Rainfall: nil to 4mm
Temperature: max. 8°C to 10°C, min. -1°C to 4°C; ground temperatures down
to -6°C inland
Sunshine: nil to 1 hour generally, 4 to 6 hours near Atlantic coasts
Friday 16th: An anticyclone of 1036hPa centred over Ireland continued to
intensify and move slowly eastwards. Dry, clear and very cold overnight with
widespread air and ground frost. Mist and freezing fog patches in many areas
also, clearing only slowly in the midlands. Most places had a clear, sunny day
and afternoon temperatures were well up to normal but it was cold where the
fog persisted. Frost set in quickly after dark. Winds mostly light and variable.
Rainfall: nil or trace
Temperature: max. 7°C to 10°C, min. -5°C to 1°C; ground temperatures down
to -10°C in Dublin
Sunshine: 1 to 5 hours, 8 hours near east and southeast coast
9
Thursday 22nd: The anticyclone declined, allowing a rainbelt to drift slowly
southwards over Ireland as a westerly airflow over the area strengthened.
Widespread, mostly light, rain persisted in most places for much of the day.
Becoming dry in some places later. Winds moderate to fresh and gusty, mostly
westerly, later northwesterly. Some sunshine in the south and southeast.
Rainfall: nil to 4mm
Temperature: max. 8°C to 12°C, min. 4°C to 8°C, no ground frost
Sunshine: 1 to 4 hours generally
Friday 23rd: A northwesterly airflow became established over Ireland. A
cooler, fresher day than of late. Some scattered showers, most frequent in the
western half of the country. A few patches of light rain also. North to
northwesterly winds, mostly light to moderate but stronger along the north
coast, touching gale force at times during the morning. Some sunny spells in
the south and southwest. No frost but feeling cold in the sharp northerly wind.
Rainfall: nil to 3mm
Temperature: max. 7°C to 10°C, min. -1°C to 3°C; ground temperatures down
to -6°C in Clones
Sunshine: 2 to 5 hours generally, 7 hours at Malin Head
Saturday 17th: The anticyclone of 1045hPa centred over Wales moved very
slowly eastwards. After a very cold night it was another bright sunny day in
most places, but fog again lingered in some inland areas. Cloudier in the south
and southwest. Winds again light and variable or southerly in direction.
Saturday 24th: High pressure to the northwest maintained a generally light
northwest airflow over the country. Very cold overnight with widespread
ground and air frost which cleared quickly from most areas as good sunny
spells developed. It was a dry, sunny day with scattered wintry showers, mainly
in northern areas and although cool it was quite pleasant in the sunshine.
Ground frost developed again during the evening in many areas.
Rainfall: nil or trace
Temperature: max. 7°C to 10°C, min. -5°C to -2°C inland, 0°C to 6°C coastal;
ground temperatures down to -11°C in Dublin
Sunshine: nil to 4 hours in parts of south, 6 to 9 hours generally
Rainfall: nil to 1mm
Temperature: max. 6°C to 9°C, min. -5°C to 0°C; ground temperatures down to
-10°C in Clones
Sunshine: 7 to 10 hours generally
Sunday 18th: The intense anticyclone persisted to the east of Ireland,
maintaining a light southerly airflow. Some sharp to severe frost during the
night and again after dark with patches of freezing fog in places. Generally dry,
but with some light rain or drizzle near the north and northwest coasts towards
late evening. Daytime temperatures near normal.
Sunday 25th: A ridge of high pressure moved eastwards over the area as a
frontal system moved southeastwards over the country during the afternoon.
Very cold overnight with widespread frost which cleared quickly in the early
sunshine. Cool, dry and bright weather at first changed to outbreaks of rain in
northern areas by early afternoon, spreading southeastwards during the
remainder of the day. The rain was generally light but persistent in places.
Winds were light to moderate southwesterly, veering west to northwesterly.
Rainfall: nil to 1mm
Temperature: max. 7°C to 9°C, min. -3°C to 0°C inland, up to 7°C coastal;
ground temperatures down to -9°C in Dublin
Sunshine: 3 to 6 hours generally, 8 hours in Dublin
Monday 19th: Anticyclone persisted to the south while weak frontal troughs
moved south across the country during the period. Extensive frost, sharp to
severe in many areas during the night. Mist and fog persistent and extensive in
inland areas and also slow to clear during the morning. Patches of drizzle and
light rain in most areas with amounts generally quite small. Dull everywhere.
Rainfall: trace to 1mm, 5 to 8mm in southwest and parts of north
Temperature: max. 6°C to 9°C, min -3°C to 4°C; ground temperatures down to
-9°C in Kilkenny
Sunshine: nil to 5 hours
Rainfall: nil to 2mm
Temperature: max. 8°C to 12°C, min. -1°C to 4°C inland, up to 7°C coastal;
ground temperatures down to -7°C at Kilkenny
Sunshine: nil to 4 hours
Monday 26th: A depression of 986hPa centered over northwest England was
almost stationary leaving Ireland in a very strong northerly airflow. A cold front
passed over the east coast into the Irish Sea. The day started with rain in the
east and south and showers further west. Showers turned progressively to sleet
and snow with accumulations even at sea level. Strong winds at first slackened
off in the east before becoming very strong again during the evening.
Tuesday 20th: The anticyclone of 1043hPa to the southwest of Ireland
continued to decline and was slow-moving. A weak warm front crossed the
country during the day. Cold overnight in Ulster and north Leinster with
ground frost in places at first. Milder weather elsewhere with drizzle pushing
into the southwest, reaching the east coast by evening. Very little sunshine
generally but afternoon temperatures were slightly above normal. Winds were
light variable at first, becoming light to moderate westerly after the clearance of
the front.
Tuesday 27th: The depression to the east maintained a strong and bitterly
cold northerly airflow over Ireland. Outbreaks of snow persisted near eastern
and northeastern coasts, giving significant accumulations in places. Elsewhere it
was mostly dry with just a few wintry showers. Sunny in the western half.
Northerly winds reached gale force along northern and eastern coasts.
Rainfall: nil to 2mm in east, up to 14mm in Rosslare
Temperature: max. 4°C to 7°C, mins. close to zero; ground temperatures down
to -5°C in Kilkenny
Sunshine: trace to 2 hours
Rainfall: nil to 1mm
Temperature: max. 9°C to 12°C, min. 0°C to 6°C; ground temperatures down to
-5°C in Clones
Sunshine: nil to 3 hours
Rainfall: nil to 1mm generally, 18mm at Dublin Airport
Temperature: max. 0°C to 3°C near east coast, 6°C to 7°C in west, min. -1°C to
2°C; ground temperatures -4°C to 1°C
Sunshine: nil to 2 hours in east, 6 to 8 hours in west
Wednesday 21st: The area of high pressure to the southwest remained
almost stationary. A cold front moved southwards over Ulster during the day.
Mist and fog patches overnight with spots of light rain or drizzle; some slight
ground frost in places also. The rest of the day and evening were mild and dull
with patchy rain or drizzle. Winds were generally light westerly or northwesterly
in direction.
Wednesday 28th: A depression over northwest France filled and moved
northeastwards. Very cold overnight with widespread sharp to severe ground
frost and scattered wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow. A cold, mostly sunny
day with scattered wintry showers in coastal areas. Sharp to severe ground frost
set in after dark. Northerly winds were generally light but were moderate to
fresh and gusty on northern, eastern and some southern coasts.
Rainfall: nil to 2mm
Temperature: max. 8°C to 12°C, min. 4°C to 7°C; ground temperatures -1°C to
3°C
Sunshine: nil to 3 hours
Rainfall: nil to 3mm
Temperature: max. 2°C to 5°C, min. -4°C to 1°C; ground temperatures below
zero everywhere, around -10°C inland
Sunshine: nil in southeast, elsewhere 4 to 10 hours
10
Dry in west and
midlands
Rainfall totals were below
normal over most of the country,
but they were near or above
normal in the south and in some
coastal areas of the north and
east. They ranged from 41mm at
both Birr and Casement
Aerodrome to 147mm at Maam
Valley, Co. Galway, with
percentage of normal values
between 70% at both Belmullet
and Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim and
138% at Rosslare. While it was
the wettest February since 1994
at Rosslare, it was the driest
since 1993 at Belmullet.
There was less variation than
normal in the number of wetdays
during the month (days with 1.0mm
or more of rainfall); there were
between 10 and 13 such days
almost everywhere, with only 8 or 9
at some eastern stations. Most of
the month’s rainfall fell during the
first 11 days, while there were also
some heavy falls, mostly in the
form of snow, between the 25th
and 27th. In contrast, less than
5mm of rain was recorded generally
between the 11th and the 24th.
Maam Valley measured the highest
daily fall, 24.3mm on the 5th.
RAINFALL
County/
Station
Total
% of
Amount 1961-90
(mm) average
CO. CLARE
SHANNON AIRPORT
54.3
CARRON
74.2
CO. CORK
FERMOY (MOORE PARK)
91.0
CORK AIRPORT
129.7
SHERKIN ISLAND
135.1
BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD)
123.9
CO. DONEGAL
MALIN HEAD
89.2
BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) 56.8
LETTERKENNY(MAGHERENAN)
67.1
CO. DUBLIN
DUBLIN (PHOENIX PARK)
48.2
DUBLIN AIRPORT
48.8
CASEMENT AERODROME
41.2
DUBLIN (MERRION SQUARE)
42.1
CO. GALWAY
GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.)
63.9
MAAM VALLEY
146.9
CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK
91.6
BALLYGAR
68.5
CO. KERRY
VALENTIA OBSERVATORY
120.2
ARDFERT (LISCAHANE)
61.6
CO. KILKENNY
KILKENNY
66.9
CO. LEITRIM
BALLINAMORE
62.3
CO. LIMERICK
MOUNT RUSSELL
85.4
CO. LOUTH
ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE)
44.8
CO. MAYO
BELMULLET
56.2
STRAIDE
78.2
CONNAUGHT AIRPORT
65.4
CO. MEATH
WARRENSTOWN
49.6
CO. MONAGHAN
CLONES
48.6
CO. OFFALY
BIRR
40.9
DERRYGREENAGH
56.8
CO. SLIGO
ARDTARMON
53.0
CO. TIPPERARY
FETHARD (PARSONSHILL)
84.0
CO. WATERFORD
WATERFORD (TYCOR)
96.5
DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA)
123.2
CO. WESTMEATH
MULLINGAR II
48.3
CO. WEXFORD
JOHNSTOWN CASTLE
109.9
ROSSLARE
96.5
CLONROCHE
103.3
JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK
101.4
Most in
a day / date
Number of
Raindays Wetdays
(>0.2mm) (>1mm)
75
72
17.9
12.9
5
5
15
20
10
15
105
112
122
21.2
21.4
21.1
23.8
11
9
3
11
18
15
15
17
13
13
14
13
116
76
19.8
10.5
10.9
20
17
21
12
12
13
88
14.7
10.5
10.3
7.8
27
5
5
5
17
17
15
15
10
10
10
9
14.6
24.3
20.5
16.4
25
5
5
25
14
19
18
16
12
13
14
10
98
24.0
13.1
9
3
17
15
13
13
101
17.7
11
17
13
70
15.8
5
20
13
17.6
11
18
14
73
10.5
4
16
9
70
81
12.9
15.0
13.0
25
25
5
21
17
19
12
12
12
81
12.4
5
17
8
72
10.5
5
17
13
75
92
6.2
9.7
9
5
15
17
10
11
9.1
5
18
11
21.0
11
15
13
108
18.4
22.8
11
9
20
14
11
13
73
9.3
5
14
11
137
138
106
121
19.3
15.7
17.5
21.2
11
11
11
11
17
17
16
12
12
13
13
11
84
83
80
82
90
5
5
6 26
11
RAINFALL
Total rainfall (mm)
Percentage of normal rainfall
Daily 0-24h rainfall values (mm)
20
15
10
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Valentia Observatory
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Dublin Airport
Clones
12
TEMPERATURE
Cold end to an otherwise
mild month
+1.0°C
+0.1°C
SCALE
Relatively mild weather prevailed during most
of February, but some cold weather at times,
especially during the final week, brought mean
temperatures close to normal for the month
overall. Mean air temperatures for the month
ranged from 3.8°C at Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim,
to 7.2°C at Sherkin Island, Co. Cork, and were
within half a degree of normal almost
everywhere. Despite being close to normal, it
was the coldest February everywhere since 1996.
Air frost was frequent during the month, with more
than 10 air frosts at around half the stations
compared with the normal range for February of
between 3 and 9. Like last month, Rosslare was the
only station to escape without any air frost. The
lowest air temperature of the month, -6.1°C, was
recorded at Ballinamore on the 9th, while the lowest
grass minimum temperature, -11.4°C, was measured
at Kilkenny on the same day. Dublin Airport’s grass
minimum temperature of -11.1°C on the 14th was
its lowest such value for February in 60 years of
record. The warmest day of the month at most
-1.0°C
+0.5°C
0.0°C
+0.4°C
+0.2°C
+0.4°C
-0.1°C
+0.2°C
+0.3°C
+0.3°C
+0.7°C
Mean Temperature
(difference from 1961-90 normals)
stations was the 10th; Dublin (Merrion Square)
measured the highest value on this day, 14.0°C.
Daily 0-24h maximum temperatures (°C)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
‹ Valentia
5
6
7
8
9
Observatory
‡
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Dublin Airport
z Clones
Daily 0-24h minimum temperatures (°C)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
2
-4
4
-6
6
1
2
3
4
‹ Valentia
5
6
7
Observatory
8
‡
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Dublin Airport
z Clones
13
TEMPERATURE
County/
Station
CO. CLARE
SHANNON AIRPORT
CARRON
CO. CORK
FERMOY (MOORE PARK)
CORK AIRPORT
SHERKIN ISLAND
BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD)
CO. DONEGAL
MALIN HEAD
BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL)
LETTERKENNY(MAGHERENAN)
CO. DUBLIN
DUBLIN (PHOENIX PARK)
DUBLIN AIRPORT
CASEMENT AERODROME
DUBLIN (MERRION SQUARE)
CO. GALWAY
GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.)
MAAM VALLEY
CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK
BALLYGAR
CO. KERRY
VALENTIA OBSERVATORY
ARDFERT (LISCAHANE)
CO. KILKENNY
KILKENNY
CO. LEITRIM
BALLINAMORE
CO. LIMERICK
MOUNT RUSSELL
CO. LOUTH
ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE)
CO. MAYO
BELMULLET
STRAIDE
CONNAUGHT AIRPORT
CO. MEATH
WARRENSTOWN
CO. MONAGHAN
CLONES
CO. OFFALY
BIRR
DERRYGREENAGH
CO. SLIGO
ARDTARMON
CO. TIPPERARY
FETHARD (PARSONSHILL)
CO. WATERFORD
WATERFORD (TYCOR)
DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA)
CO. WESTMEATH
MULLINGAR II
CO. WEXFORD
JOHNSTOWN CASTLE
ROSSLARE
CLONROCHE
JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK
°C
Mean/ deviation
Mean from 1961-90
min.
average
Highest
max./date
Lowest
min./date
9.4
8.1
2.5
1.8
6.0
5.0
0.4
0.7
12.8 10
12.0 10
-2.8 28
-3.4 9
-8.6 28
-9.4 9
7
7
20
23
9.1
8.7
9.6
8.8
1.5
2.9
4.7
1.8
5.3
5.8
7.2
5.3
0.1
0.7
0.6
13.2
13.2
12.1
12.2
-4.8 9
-2.0 28
-1.0 9
-3.0 28
-6.5
-8.1
-2.8
-5.5
9
9
9 10
9
9
6
2
8
18
15
5
14
7.4
8.0
8.2
3.1
1.5
0.3
5.3
4.8
4.3
0.1
0.2
-0.1
11.3 10
12.5 10
12.4 10
-0.7
-3.0
-4.7
-2.5
9
1
9
13
8
8.6
7.9
8.1
8.4
0.6
0.8
0.8
2.9
4.6
4.4
4.5
5.7
-0.1
13.4
13.1
12.8
14.0
-5.1
-4.8
-5.3
-1.1
17
17
16
28
-8.9 14
-11.1 14
-8.2 17
14
12
13
5
23
18
16
--9.4
8.8
8.9
--2.6
3.0
1.2
--6.0
5.9
5.1
not available
13.4 21
-2.4 9
12.0 21
-1.8 28
14.1 21
-3.5 16
---6.4 17
15
-7.2 28
6
4
11
9.7
9.6
4.0
2.3
6.9
6.0
0.3
0.2
12.7 10
13.2 10
-1.6 25
-5.2 28
-7.2 25
-7.6 28
3
7
13
14
8.5
1.4
5.0
0.2
13.1 10
-4.3
9
12
19
7.9
-0.3
3.8
0.3
12.0 21
-6.1
9
8.3
2.5
5.4
12.8 10
-3.9 28
9.0
0.0
4.5
-0.1
13.9 21
-5.1 18
-9.2
9.1
9.0
6.9
3.0
0.4
0.9
6.1
4.7
3.9
0.5
-0.1
11.8 10
12.9 10
10.9 10
-0.8 24
-4.9 9
-2.5 9
7.9
1.3
4.6
0.3
12.5 10
-4.3 17
7.9
0.4
4.2
0.0
12.0 10
-3.9 16
8.6
8.2
1.4
0.6
5.0
4.4
0.2
0.4
13.5 10
13.1 10
8.6
2.1
5.4
8.0
1.3
4.7
9.1
9.5
2.0
2.0
5.6
5.8
0.3
0.2
13.0 21 22 -2.8
13.4 22
-3.9
8.2
0.7
4.5
0.4
12.6 10
8.8
8.8
8.2
8.5
2.6
3.6
1.9
2.4
5.7
6.2
5.1
5.5
0.5
0.3
0.5
0.5
13.2
12.3
12.2
12.8
Mean
max.
-0.1
-0.1
0.6
10
21
22
21
10
10
10
10
9
8 24
9 17
Lowest
grass min./date
-11.4
9
Days with
air frost ground frost
19
15
6
12
17
25
-5.1 24
-9.5 9
-7.4 24
4
11
15
14
22
19
-8.5 17
12
19
9
15
19
-4.7 24
-5.0 17
-9.4 24
-9.8 24
10
12
19
16
13.1 10
-1.1
9
-5.4
8
7
14
12.1 10
-2.8 28
-5.9
9
10
17
-4.5
9
9
10
11
-5.4 17
-10.0 17
11
22
-1.9 9
0.2 25
-2.6 9
-2.2 17
-5.0 9
-6.0 18
-7.0 18
-7.0 17
5
0
10
6
12
9
14
16
22
22
22
22
9
9
-10.1 28
-10.3
9 16
14
SUNSHINE
Another sunny month
County/
Station
Daily mean
(hours/day)
CO. CLARE
SHANNON AIRPORT
CO. CORK
CORK AIRPORT
SHERKIN ISLAND
BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD)
CO. DONEGAL
MALIN HEAD
BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL)
CO. DUBLIN
DUBLIN AIRPORT
CASEMENT AERODROME
CO. GALWAY
GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.)
CO. KERRY
VALENTIA OBSERVATORY
ARDFERT (LISCAHANE)
CO. KILKENNY
KILKENNY
CO. LEITRIM
BALLINAMORE
CO. MAYO
BELMULLET
STRAIDE
CONNAUGHT AIRPORT
CO. MONAGHAN
CLONES
CO. OFFALY
BIRR
CO. WATERFORD
DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA)
CO. WESTMEATH
MULLINGAR II
CO. WEXFORD
JOHNSTOWN CASTLE
ROSSLARE
CLONROCHE
JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK
% of
% of
average possible
Most in
a day/date
3.20
137
32
9.2 24
3.18
3.36
3.05
127
121
32
34
34
9.8 24
9.5 24
8.6 24
3.17
3.05
146
143
33
31
8.6 17
7.6 13
3.51
2.97
140
121
36
30
9.1 17
8.4 13
3.27
132
33
9.1 28
2.96
3.57
138
30
31
9.0 28
8.7 13
2.39
105
24
9.8 24
3.29
141
34
7.6 28
3.03
3.09
3.34
126
31
130
34
9.0 24
8.7 13
8.5 13
3.48
167
36
9.8 28
2.61
113
27
8.6 13
31
9.8 24
Following a much sunnier than normal
January, sunshine totals for this month
were again well above normal generally.
They ranged from 67 hours at Kilkenny to
100 hours at Ardfert (Liscahane), Co.
Kerry, with percentage of normal values
between 101% at Johnstown Castle, Co.
Wexford and 167% at Clones. It was the
sunniest February at most station since
1996 and at both Mullingar and Dublin
Airport since 1970.
Mullingar measured the highest daily sunshine
of the month, 9.9 hours on the 28th. Daily
sunshine values of 9.8 hours recorded on
either the 24th or 28th at Clones, Kilkenny
and Cork Airport were the highest February
values on record at each station. Global solar
radiation totals were normal or above
everywhere, ranging from 100% at Valentia
Observatory to 132% at Dublin Airport.
150%
146%
SCALE
50%
167%
126%
152%
121%
113%
2.69
137%
3.52
152
36
9.9 28
2.34
2.91
2.90
2.99
101
118
114
123
24
29
29
30
8.1
8.5
9.4
9.3
105%
24
14
24
24
118%
138%
127%
Total Sunshine
(difference from 1961-90 normals)
Daily sunshine values(hours)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Valentia Observatory
9
10
11
12
13
14 15
Dublin Airport
16
17
18
19
20
21 22
Clones
23
24
25
26
27
28
EUROPEAN AND WORLD WEATHER
15
%
FEBRUARY RAINFALL
(Percentage of
1961-1990 normal)
200
150
125
100
75
50
°C
+5
+3
+1
-1
FEBRUARY MEAN TEMPERATURES
(difference from
1961-1990 normal)
-3
-5
It was a month of contrasting
temperatures over Canada. Northern
regions had mean temperatures well
above average; at Norman Wells in the
Northwest Territories, for example,
the mean of -21°C may not sound
high, but this was seven degrees above
normal for February. Further south,
however, Regina’s mean of -19°C was
six degrees below normal.
Global weather
highlights of
the month
It was an exceptionally
cold month over northern
Scandinavia, with values of
between -38°C and -52°C
measured here around
mid-month, over fifteen
degrees below the normal
February minima.
Data supplied by NOAA
Climate Prediction Centre,
US Department of Commerce
Late February saw a diminution in the
bitterly cold conditions which affected
Siberia, northern China and Mongolia
since late 2000. Reported values of
around -70°C in mid-January in the
Kemerovo region represent the lowest
air temperatures ever recorded in Asia.
Unusually heavy rain affected large
areas of both western and
northeastern Australia during the
month. In the northeast, a wet month
was capped by some torrential falls
during the last week associated with
tropical storm Abigail ; Cairns
received a total of 810mm during the
month, twice its normal February fall.
16
WINTER SUMMARY
The Weather of December, January and February
Sunny and mostly dry;
temperatures near normal
Although seasonal mean temperatures were close to
normal, the mild winters of recent years meant that
this winter was the coldest for at least 5 years
everywhere and for 10 years at some stations (see chart
below). Sunshine totals for the season were above
normal everywhere. Each of the winter months was
sunnier than normal almost everywhere. It was the
sunniest winter for at least 10 years generally and for
over 40 years in places; Malin Head’s total of 209
hours was its highest for winter since sunshine records
began there in 1915. Daily sunshine values of 9 hours
or more were measured on a number of days during
the second half of February. Mean wind speeds for
the season were below normal everywhere; Valentia
Observatory’s mean value of 9.5 knots (10.9 m.p.h.)
was its lowest for winter in over 70 years of record.
Cork Airport measured the highest gust of the season,
64 knots (74m.p.h.), on February 6th.
Rainfall totals for the season were below normal over
most of the country. The very wet weather of autumn
continued into the first half of December, but apart
from another spell of wet weather in early February
the remainder of the season was relatively dry. Most
stations recorded only around half their normal
January rainfall totals. Mean temperatures for the
season were within half a degree of normal almost
everywhere. January was cold, while both December
and February had spells of both mild and very cold
weather. Arctic air during late December and again in
late February brought some very low temperatures
and significant snowfalls except in the south; air
temperatures reached their lowest values for 20 years
in places between December 27th and 30th.
9
8
Valentia Observatory
Mean Winter 7
Temperature
6
°C
5
Clones
4
3
1990/1 1991/2 1992/3 1993/4 1994/5 1995/6 1996/7 1997/8 1998/9 1999/00 2000/01
Year
CO. CLARE
SHANNON AIRPORT
CO. CORK
CORK AIRPORT
CO. DONEGAL
MALIN HEAD
CO. DUBLIN
DUBLIN AIRPORT
CASEMENT AERODROME
CO. KERRY
VALENTIA OBSERVATORY
CO. KILKENNY
KILKENNY
CO. MAYO
BELMULLET
CONNAUGHT AIRPORT
CO. MONAGHAN
CLONES
CO. OFFALY
BIRR
CO. WESTMEATH
MULLINGAR II
CO. WEXFORD
ROSSLARE
182.5
70
398.8
101
271.2
16.0
6 Feb
5.7
+0.1
13.2
-4.9
2.36 123
9.2 24 Feb 59
35.8 31 Dec
5.6
+0.3
13.2
-3.6
2.49 126
93
23.2
8 Dec
5.5
-0.1
12.6
-2.8
204.5
209.1
108
26.6
28.0
8 Dec
8 Dec
4.5
4.7
0.0
13.3
13.3
472.0
108
40.9 31 Dec
6.7
-0.3
224.7
94
19.0 22 Jan
4.8
260.7
276.3
82
25.5 12 Dec
16.1 12 Dec
212.1
85
22.2
148.9
70
210.1
84
24.6
343.9
131
37.6
Fog
most in a day
amount date(s)
Gale gusts
Daily
mean
Thunder
Extremes
Highest
Lowest
Hail
diff. from
average
Air frost
Mean
Rain
Most in a day
amount
date(s)
% of
average
% of
average
Total
NO. OF DAYS WITH:
SUNSHINE (HOURS)
Snow
TEMPERATURE (°C)
RAINFALL (mm)
County/
Station
5 20
2
1 18 17
9.9
1 Mar 62 11 13
1
1 33 23
2.41 160
8.8
1 Mar 65 16
-7.4
-8.3
2.32 112
2.30 117
9.1 17 Feb 68 11 31
8.4 13 Feb 53 9 33
5
2
0 10 26
0 9 24
13.1
-2.9
2.17 123
9.2
9
4
+0.1
13.1
-5.1
2.12 109
9.8 24 Feb 54
5.7
3.4
-0.4
11.8
10.9
-5.5
-6.9
2.53 145
2.47
9.0 24 Feb 66 8 15 24
8.5 13 Feb 59 20 42 5
8 Dec
3.9
-0.3
12.1
-9.3
2.28 139
9.8 28 Feb 53
41
13
9.3 12 Dec
4.8
0.0
13.5
-7.8
2.05 107
8.6 13 Feb 52
28
9
8 Dec
4.1
0.0
12.6
-8.0
2.41 123
9.9 28 Feb 56
36
8
7 Dec
6.6
+0.3
12.6
-1.7
2.72 123
8.5 14 Feb 58
1 Mar 70
4
8 16
9
38
3
5
1
3 56
6 31
16
5
2 1 33
0 51 18
0 10 36