Last month saw some of the coldest March days in Ireland since records began.
Only four times previously - in 1962, 1965, 1986 and 2001 - have air temperatures in March fallen below the minus 7.8 degrees Celsius recorded in Birr, Co Offaly, on March 3rd. The ground temperature of minus 16 degrees noted in Birr on the same day was the lowest since the station opened in 1954, according to Met Éireann's monthly weather summary.
"It's a long time since I saw air and ground temperatures that low," said forecaster Aidan Nulty. "I've been working here for 27 years and I've never seen ground temperatures that low."
As well as being exceptionally cold, last month was also the wettest and dullest March for more than five years in most parts of Ireland.
Most parts have not seen a wetter March for between eight and 18 years, although the number of wet days (those with 1mm or more rainfall) was in the normal range for March. The highest daily rainfall of 27.4mm was recorded at Valentia Observatory on March 26th.
There were fewer sunny days than usual, too, making it the dullest March for between six and eight years.
An Arctic airstream which covered Ireland in the early part of the month brought severe frost and widespread snowfalls. The latter part of the month was more unsettled everywhere, with rain or heavy showers developing regularly.
Met Éireann said there was one reported tornado last month. It struck at Bailieborough, Co Cavan, last Friday, damaging several houses and cutting the power supply to hundreds of homes. A second tornado was reported in Co Meath last Saturday, April 1st.
"It seems tornadoes are becoming more usual in Ireland," said Mr Nulty. "They're quite isolated and short-lived, but they do seem to be getting reported more."