Sunniest and driest summer in 11 years, says Met Éireann

Summer 2006 was officially the warmest, driest and sunniest summer in 11 years, with record-breaking temperatures in some places and rainfall levels well below normal everywhere.

Not since the record-breaking summer of 1995 had we experienced such high temperatures, Met Éireann said yesterday.

At Malin Head in Co Donegal, the warmest summer since temperature records began there in 1885 was recorded.

Mean air temperatures for the months June, July and August were more than one degree higher than normal for the years 1961 to 1990 everywhere and were close to two degrees above normal in some places.

It was also the driest summer since 1995 at most weather stations and the driest on record at Shannon airport since records began there in 1945. The average number of wet days was between 20 to 30 for the season, compared to 30 to 40 normally.

The hottest days were on July 18th and July 19th, except in the Cork area, which measured its highest values on August 5th.

Belmullet in Co Mayo and Casement Aerodrome recorded their highest temperatures in over 40 years on July 19th.

August was relatively dull but warm. Despite a dry start, the weather became more unsettled with rain on many days and generally cloudy conditions.

Much of last month's rain was in the form of showers, however. Temperatures ranged from a high of 27.9 degrees at Kilkenny on August 5th down to 4.5 degrees at Mullingar on August 8th.