Unconventional forecasters predict summer scorcher

We’re in for another summer of scorching weather, if animals, nature and the moon are to be believed.

Famed alternative weather forecaster Ken Ring, who claims to be able to predict long-range weather patterns by observing the cyclic orbits of both the moon and the sun, believes that Ireland will experience a recurrence of yesterday's tropical conditions again on June 27th, and the New Zealander also says that we're in for a warmer and sunnier summer than average.

“The most settled periods of summer are during the last 10 days of each month of the season. In particular the last weeks of June and July may be significantly dry, warm, bright and sunny,” said Mr Ring.

A writer, he had been a keen amateur weather observer before his accurate predictions of the devastating 2011 earthquakes in Christ Church brought him and his unusual techniques to international attention.

Although he is confident of fine, settled weather up until the end of July, we may be in for a disappointing August, with a distinct possibility of flooding if the signs are correct.

“August’s temperatures may be mostly in the 20s, but cloud and intermittent rain and a lack of high daytime temperatures make it a disappointing month for outdoor activities,” said Mr Ring, who expects temperatures to remain broadly above the 20 degree mark until the start of October in what could be a pleasant early autumn.

Mr Ring takes a dim view of what he deems were disparaging remarks issued during Met Éireann weather broadcasts which he believes were aimed at people such as himself.

“I’d respectfully suggest to Met Éireann that they need fear nothing from alternative theories and methods.

RTÉ have invited me onto the Saturday Night Show maybe because we seem to have consistently done a little better than Met Éireann when it comes to longer that a few days ahead," he said.

Much like his contemporary on the other side of the world, Donegal postman Michael Gallagher also has an auspicious record when it comes to predicting far-off weather patterns, and there's no love lost between him and conventional forecasters either.

“They can say whatever they like in Met Éireann...but at the end of the day they’re looking up at the sky, but we’re looking around us and it’s what’s around us that’s more important than what’s above you,” said Mr Gallagher, whose predictions of a blazing hot summer in 2013 added to his correct premonition about a white Christmas in 2009.

He agrees with Mr Ring that an exceptionally glorious summer is in the offing, and puts his eerily accurate forecasts down to the activities of local wildlife, and nature in general.

“Long ago when people saw animals move up to the mountains. People had to depend on that and the behaviour of all the animals to know what was going to happen.

“When I was coming home last night I noticed the mist coming down off the mountains, then at the beginning of June there was hailstones and very cold weather which was another indicator of what was to come,” he said in relation to Wednesday’s record-breaking highs for this year, which he expects to be a regular occurrence in a largely rain-free summer season.