January was wettest for two decades in some parts

Some parts of the country had their wettest January in more than two decades.

Rainfall levels were above average everywhere for the month, according to Met Éireann.

Knock Airport had its wettest January on record with 208.1mms of rain, Belmullet report its wettest January for 21 years with 210.5mms of rain.

Valentia Observatory was the wettest station recording 289mms of rain, its wettest January in five years.

The month’s wettest day with 33.3mm was at Newport on the 24th, its highest daily fall for January since 2005 (nine years).

Knock Airport reported 26.5mm on the 3rd, its highest daily fall for January since 2004 (10 years), while some stations in the West and Southwest reported their highest daily fall for January in nine years.

The number of wet days (days with 1 mm or more) ranged from 18 at Phoenix Park to 29 at Valentia Observatory.

Mace Head in Galway recorded the month's highest gust of 72 knots (133 km/h) on the 3rd, its highest gust for January since records began in 2007, while some stations in the South recorded their highest gusts for January in 5 to 6 years.

Gale force winds were reported on 11 days during the month while storm force winds were reported on the 3rd and 26th at Mace Head.

The whole month was unsettled especially the start and end of the month which led to flooding in many places.

In keeping with the unsettled blustery conditions dominated by south-westerly winds, temperatures were above normal everywhere and there was little in the way of sub-zero temperatures. Casement and Shannon

Airport both reported their highest minimum of -1.1°C and 0.0°C respectively for January since 1990 (24 years), while Belmullet reported a grass minimum temperature of -2.1°C, its highest for January since 1983 (31 years).