Phoenix Park experienced hottest June day in 56 years last month

Temperatures of 28.6 degrees recorded at the Dublin 8 weather station

Visitors enjoy the fine weather in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Visitors enjoy the fine weather in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times

The Phoenix Park in Dublin experienced its hottest June day in 56 years last month.

Temperatures soared to 28.6 degrees on June 21st at the Dublin weather station, the hottest it has recorded that month since electronic records began, according to Met Éireann’s latest monthly summary.

Tom Murphy, meteorological officer at Met Éireann said: “The record for Phoenix Park is 28.7 degrees and that happened in 1950. Our records only go back to 1961 electronically so we could only go back as far as 56 years. It’s actually just .1 of a degree off the record for all-time.

Enjoying the fine weather in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Enjoying the fine weather in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times

“The Phoenix Park had its warmest June in seven years and Dublin Airport had the warmest June in 11 years.”

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The month’s highest mean temperature was experienced at the Phoenix Park (15.2 degrees) while the lowest was at Knock Airport, Co Mayo (12.8 degrees).

Despite the country experiencing a mini-heatwave during mid-June, most weather stations had above average rainfall last month.

Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry experienced the highest monthly rainfall with 141.5mm while Finner in Co Donegal had the lowest monthly total. Despite the country experiencing a mini-heatwave during mid-June, most weather stations had above average rainfall last month.

The highest daily rainfall was 31.1mm, recorded at Valentia on June 9th. The number of wet days ranged from 12 at Carlow (Oak Park) to 21 at both Newport, Co Mayo and Valentia.

“The rainfall was above average nationwide in June. There was a lot of rain at night in June, it actually rained quite a bit,” Mr Murphy added.

“It rained a lot up until June 15th, the first half of the month. Then it didn’t rain that much from June 16th - 20th, then it rained a lot again from the 21st - 30th.”

The sunniest days of the month were reported at both Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford and Cork with 15.9 hours, both on June 18th. The number of dull days ranged from three at Malin Head, Co Donegal, to eight at Knock Airport.

There was only one day with ground frost, which was at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon on June 26th. There was no air frost reported last month.

Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 11.3km/h at Mullingar, Co Westmeath to 27.8km/h at Mace Head, Co Galway. The highest gust was 87km/h at Belmullet, Co Mayo.

Sarah Burns

Sarah Burns

Sarah Burns is a reporter for The Irish Times