ANNUAL SUMMARY
2014
Wet, warm and sunny nearly everywhere; extremely windy at times
Rainfall: near or above average; February extremely wet, September extremely dry
Most annual rainfall totals were near or above their Long-Term Average (LTA) with the exception of Mace
Head. Annual percentage of average rainfall was up to 131% at Carlow (Oak Park) with 1098.4 mm.
Stations in parts of the Midlands, East, Southwest and South reported their highest annual totals in five and
six years, with Mullingar reporting its wettest year since 2002, with 1197.3 mm (123% of its LTA). Mace
Head reported the lowest annual percentage of LTA rainfall with 88% (1187.5 mm) with above average
monthly rainfall only reported in January and February. February LTAs here and across the country were
nearly double or triple their normal. While, during September a period of absolute drought (a period of 15 or
more consecutive days with less than 0.2 mm) affected parts of the South, Southwest and West bringing monthly
percentage of LTAs at Mace Head and at most other stations in the West to be below 10%. The wettest day
of the year* was August 1st at the rainfall station of Clonaslee, Co. Laois where 95.0 mm fell, its wettest day
on record since 1985.
Temperature: warmest annual conditions in seven years for most
Annual mean temperatures were all on or above their LTA, with differences up to 0.8°C at Dublin (Phoenix
Park). Warmest conditions (compared to average) were recorded in April and September with mean
temperatures difference from LTAs of between 1°C and 2°C reported. August had the coolest conditions
(compared to average) of up to -1.5°C and reported monthly mean temperatures lower than September’s.
Annual mean temperatures ranged from 9.2°C at Knock Airport (0.7°C from LTA) to 11.6°C at Sherkin
Island (0.4°C from LTA). Both stations and most other stations across the country reported their warmest
year since 2007. The national annual mean temperature** was 10.6°C, 0.6°C above its LTA and 0.2°C below
the national annual mean temperature recorded in 2007. Dublin (Phoenix Park) reported an annual mean
temperature of 10.5°C, its warmest year in seven years and equalling its 2nd highest temperature since 1855
(159 years). The highest annual maximum temperature* was recorded at the climate station of Durrow on
July 25th with 28.8°C, with the lowest temperature of the year* recorded at Mullingar on December 29th
with -6.9°C.
Sunshine: Sunniest day of year recorded at Belmullet in June
Nearly all stations reported above average sunshine totals with the exception of Knock Airport which
reported 86% of its LTA (1035.7 hours of sun) and its dullest year on record since 1996. Dullest conditions
(when compared to LTA) were in parts of the West in May and December, while the sunniest conditions
(compared to LTA) were reported in the Southwest in June. Percentage of average sunshine values were up
to 118% at Valentia Observatory with just under 1500 hours of sunshine. The sunniest day of 2014* was
recorded at Belmullet on 17th June with 15.8 hours, its sunniest day since 1995.
Wind & marine: hurricane force winds recorded in February
Most stations reported their highest annual gust during stormy conditions on the 3rd January and on the
12th February. The year’s highest gust was 86 knots (159 km/h) recorded at Shannon Airport on 12th
February, its highest February gust on record (since 1945) and its highest annual gust since 1961 (53 years).
While, on the same date, hurricane force winds (sustained 10-minute winds of greater than 64 knots) were
reported at Mace Head of 65 knots (120 km/h), equalling the fifth highest wind speed recorded in Ireland.
EXTREME VALUES AT SYNOPTIC STATIONS
Rainfall
Highest annual total: 1714.4 mm at Newport
Lowest annual total: 884.5 mm at Dublin (Phoenix Park) (its wettest year since 2009)
Highest daily rainfall*: 95.0 mm at Clonaslee on 1st August (its wettest day since 1985)
Temperature
Highest annual mean temperature: 11.6°C at Sherkin Island
Lowest annual mean temperature: 9.2°C at Knock Airport
Highest air temperature*: 28.8°C at Durrow on 25th July
Lowest air temperature*: -6.9°C at Mullingar on 29th December
Lowest grass minimum temperature*: -10.5°C at Markree on 29th December
Sunshine
Highest annual total: 1564.3 hrs at Dublin Airport
Lowest annual total: 1035.7 hrs at Knock (its dullest year since 1996)
Highest daily sunshine*: 15.8 hrs at Belmullet on 17th June (its sunniest day since 1995)
2014 ANNUAL VALUES -PERCENTAGE/DIFFERENCE FROM 1981-2010 ANNUAL
AVERAGES
ANNUAL RAINFALL (% OF AVERAGE FOR PERIOD 1981-2010)
ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURE (°C) (DIFFERENCE FROM AVERAGE FOR PERIOD
ANNUAL SUNSHINE (% OF AVERAGE FOR PERIOD 1981-2010)
Issued by the Climatology and Observations Division of Met Éireann on 5th January, 2015.
*This report is based on all current available data from all types of weather stations operated by Met Éireann.
** National annual mean temperature is calculated using five long-term stations
Synoptic station data is 00:01-00:00 UTC. Rainfall station data and climate station data, if referred to, is 09:01-09:00 UTC.
Long-Term Averages (LTAs) and “average” refer to the period 1981-2010.