January was a very dry month with above average temperatures, according to the monthly report issued by Met Éireann.
All mean air temperatures recorded across the country were above their long-term Average (LTA) for the month – the fifth consecutive month where all stations had above average monthly mean temperatures.
While the first third of the month saw Atlantic low-pressure systems to the west and north in charge with frontal systems crossing the country, the remainder of January saw the jet stream move north, allowing high pressure to build from the south which brought very dry conditions.
Nine stations had significant spells of no rain, the longest of which was at the Phoenix Park and Casement Aerodrome in Co Kildare; lasting 23 days. Dublin Airport had its driest January since 1997 with just 14.6mm of rain.
The highest temperature was 15 degrees recorded at the Phoenix Park on January 1st -6.9 degrees above its LA for the month. The lowest air minimum temperature was reported at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon, at -4.8 degrees.
High pressure systems in the latter half of the month were centred mostly to the south and southeast of Ireland, with sunshine levels highest in these areas, Met Éireann noted.
Low pressure encroached from the north towards the end of the month with storm Corrie bringing windy conditions as it passed to the north of Ireland on January 30th. As a consequence Scotland was more badly affected.
Percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 22 per cent (a rainfall total of 22.7mm) at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, to 78 per cent (93.1mm) at Malin Head, Co Donegal.
The outlook for February suggests it will be blustery next weekend with embedded bands of rain feeding in on a brisk westerly airflow. After that, high pressure should build with milder than normal conditions expected to continue later in the month, according to Met Éireann’s long-range forecast. Rainfall is expected to be below normal across the southern half of the country with near normal totals elsewhere.
