Over month's rainfall for Rosslare in 24 hours

Ireland's traditional weather pattern was overturned yesterday as the "sunny southeast" was hit by torrential rainstorms. More than a month's rain fell in a 24-hour period between Rosslare, Co Wexford, and Roches Point in Cork.

Meanwhile, the west and northwest basked in temperatures in excess of 22 degrees.

In what was described by Met Éireann forecaster Michael McAuliffe as the "first decent rain" this month, winds blew from the northeast while the rain moved in from the southwest, confining the rain to the southern part of the country.

As families holidaying in the southeast ran for cover or stared glumly out of the windows of mobile homes, the west and north of the country basked in sunshine.

Boaters in Lough Key, Co Roscommon, enjoyed Mediterranean conditions while Donegal enjoyed some of the warmest weather this year at 22 to 23 degrees. Temperatures in Mayo and Galway hit the early to mid-20s by mid-afternoon.

In Dublin conditions were grey and misty with a distinctly cold feeling as temperatures struggled to rise to 15 degrees by mid-afternoon.

According to Mr McAuliffe the rainfall in the southeast "must be close to a record for one day" with 73ml falling at Cork airport in a 24-hour period from Saturday evening. The figure is more than twice that recorded so far for the month of July.

Similar levels were recorded at Roches Point where the rainfall was 63ml. Some 59ml was recorded at Rosslare before rain stopped last night. There was also heavy rain in Wicklow.

The midlands were quite dry with Kilkenny having only 17 to 20ml of rainfall, while Valentia in Co Kerry recorded "only" 13ml of rainfall in the 24-hour period.

"That's 'only' in inverted commas," cautioned Mr McAuliffe, who added that while the situation was "quite unusual" it should not be put down to global warming.

The wet weather had, he said, manifested itself in a clear line from Co Clare to Co Louth, but it was unlikely to be a result of climate change.

Today will see drier with more sunny weather over the whole country. But "unsettled" conditions will remain with the likelihood of more rain later in the week towards the weekend.