Wettest year on record for some areas

IRELAND’S WEATHER in 2009 can be summed up in three words – wet, wet, wet.

This year was the wettest on record in some parts of the southwest, west and midlands and also saw our third exceptionally wet summer in a row, according to preliminary figures from Met Éireann.

Temperatures were marginally above normal and overall it was quite a sunny year, but in weather terms the year was most notable for its heavy rainfall, particularly in July, August and November.

Valentia Island in Co Kerry had its wettest year since records began in 1866, with 2,158mm of rain recorded up to Tuesday, well above the previous record of 1,923mm set in 2002.

Average rainfall at the station during the year was 50 per cent above normal, according to Peter Lennon of Met Éireann’s climate section.

Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, also recorded the highest levels of rainfall since their records began, while Cork airport had its wettest year since 2002.

Once again, the summer months of July and August were washouts, and it was the wettest November on record in nearly all stations. In fact, November was the wettest month ever recorded in a number of stations – though homeowners with flooded houses in the midlands and west won’t need to be told this.

Compared to last year, the east fared slightly better in terms of rainfall, while the west was wetter than in 2008.

The highest rainfall on a single day occurred at Cork airport on November 19th, when 51.2mm was recorded.

Apart from rainfall, it was not a year of weather extremes, though the year followed last year in being about half a degree warmer than normal. Apart from last year, this was still cooler than the previous seven to 14 years, depending on the station.

The hottest day came early in the summer, on June 2nd, when 27.5 degrees was recorded at Birr and Claremorris stations.

The coldest day of the year was recorded on Christmas Day in Mullingar, when the mercury hit minus-10 degrees.

It was sunnier than usual virtually everywhere, and Malin Head in Co Donegal had its sunniest year since 1960.

The strongest gust of wind, 94 knots, was recorded on January 17th in Belmullet, Co Mayo.

WICKED WEATHER: IN NUMBERS   

27.5Cthe hottest day of the year, recorded in Birr.

51.2mmthe highest rainfall on a single day, recorded at Cork airport.

2,158mmthe annual amount of rainfall, on Valentia Island.

94 knotsthe strongest gust, recorded in Belmullet.