Monthly Weather Bulletin July 2006

July was another very warm, dry and sunny

month, continuing the pattern of fine summer

weather set in June. Temperatures were above

normal throughout almost all of the month; they

were around two degrees higher than normal

overall at most stations and three degrees higher

at Clones. It was the warmest July for between 11

and 17 years in most places and the warmest on

record at Malin Head, Clones and Casement

Aerodrome; records at Malin Head extend back

to 1885. Kilkenny had a total of 29 days during

the month where the maximum temperature

exceeded 20°C, with 9 of these days exceeding

25°C. The period between

the 16th and 20th was particularly hot, when

daily maxima reached over 25°C generally and

above 30°C in a few places, the highest

temperatures recorded since the

record-breaking month of August 1995. The values

of 31.0°C and 29.9°C, recorded on the 19th at

Monthlyy Weather

Bulletin

N

No

o.. 2

24

43

3

JULY 2006

Warmest July on record in places; sunny and mainly dry

INSIDE

INSIDE

European heatwave - European heatwave - page 2page 2

Wind & Elements ... 4

Wind & Elements ... 4

Marine & Pr

Marine & Pressur

essure ... 5

e ... 5

Agmet /La

Agmet /Lab ... 6

b ... 6

Diary ... 8

Diary ... 8

R

Rainf

ainf

all ... 10

all ... 10

T

Temper

empera

atur

ture ... 12

e ... 12

Sunshine ... 14

Sunshine ... 14

W

Wor

or

ld

ld

Wea

W

eather

ther... 15

... 15

F

Fea

eatur

tur

e ... 16

e ... 16

Reconstructing past Reconstructing past

global climate global climate

Produced by Met Éireann, Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Annual subscription 80

For more information-tel: +353-1-8064260 fax: +353-1-8064216 [email protected]

www.met.ie/climate

Notes on the tables and map showing location of stations appear in January issue Cooling down with a swim on Curracloe beach, Co. Wexford; it was the sunniest July for at least sixteen years and the warmest for more than eleven years.

Casement Aerodrome and Belmullet

respectively, were the highest

temperatures for any month on record

at these stations. In contrast, some very

low ground temperatures were

recorded just before this hot spell;

grass minima of -1.3°C at Birr on the

13th and -0.6°C at Dublin Airport on

the 14th were the lowest such values on

record for July at both stations. Like

the previous month, dry weather

prevailed during most of July, although

some heavy falls on individual days

brought totals above normal in a few

2

WEATHER

Heatwave over most of Europe

Exceptionally hot weather developed over much of western Europe during mid-July, extending to central Europe

later in the month. Mean temperatures were over five degrees higher than normal over a wide area (see charts

below), almost equalling the record temperatures set during August 2003. Maximum temperatures reached over

40°C on several days in southern Spain, while values of over 35°C were recorded in many places further north.

In Britain on the afternoon of the 19th, temperatures reached 36.5°C at Wisley, the highest July temperature

ever recorded in the country (two degrees lower than Britain’s highest ever temperature, 38.5°C, measured in

August 2003). The temperature in Paris climbed above 30°C on 16 days during the month. By the end of July, at

least 50 deaths were blamed on the extreme heat in Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

Radar rainfall chart at 0015UTC on 31st

0.1 0.6 1.5 3.6 9.0 22 55 mm/hour

Mean weekly temperatures- differences from 1961-1990 July normal

Week 3 - 16th to 22nd July Week 4 - 23rd to 29th July

NOAA Climate Prediction Centre, US Department of Commerce

+5

+3

+1

-1

-3

places. Little or no measureable rainfall

was recorded over eastern and

southern areas between the 9th and

27th; in the Dublin area, 2-month totals

since the beginning of June were only

around 30% of normal for the period.

There were between 5 and 9 wetdays

(days with 1mm or more rainfall) in the

east and south, but between 12 and 14

wetdays in some other areas. Sunshine

totals were well above normal

everywhere and it was the sunniest July

for 16 or 17 years at almost all stations.

1st to 12th: Frontal systems over Ireland

produced outbreaks of showery rain at

times, but amounts were generally small.

An exception was on the 8th, when a band

of heavy rain associated with a depression

over the north of Ireland gave heavy falls

in many areas, especially in the west and

southwest, together with strong

southwesterly winds. Despite most days

during this spell being relatively dull,

temperatures were near or above normal.

13th to 21st: High pressure over or to the

east of the country brought dry and clear

weather with very light winds. Nightime

temperatures were below normal early in

the period, but daytime temperatures rose

well above normal, especially between the

16th and 20th. There was almost

continuous sunshine in places between the

13th and 18th, but cloud increased

thereafter. The very high temperatures

generated some localised thunderstorms

late in period.

22nd to 31st: Pressure fell gradually over

the country as depressions approached

from the west, bringing more unsettled

conditions to all areas. Dry, warm weather

continued at first during this period in the

east and south, but showery conditions

elsewhere became more extensive towards

the end of the month, giving some heavy

and thundery outbreaks; a tornado

developed near Thurles, Co. Tipperary,

early on the 31st (see page 2). Light winds

at first during this period strengthened

later from a southerly direction.

Wind and elements: Mean windspeeds

for the month were between 6 and 10

knots (11 and 19 km/hour), lower than

normal for July. The highest gust, 45 knots

(83 km/hour), was measured at Belmullet

on the 29th. Thunderstorms were

recorded in the periods 2nd to 5th, 19th to

20th, 24th to 25th and 30th to 31st, but

there were no reports of hail. Fog was

widespread on the 5th, 6th and in the

period 17th to 21st.

3

WEATHER

Visible satellite image at 1500UTC on 3rd

July 2006

Right

Although a dry month generally, there were isolated heavy falls on some days. Bands of thundery rain moving northwards over southeastern areas between the 2nd and 4th produced a 2-hour fall of 18mm at Rosslare early on the 4th.

Opposite page

Early on the 31st, a tornado lifted part of the roof from a house and tore branches from trees in the village of Glengoole, near Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Heavy and sometimes thundery showers affected many areas on the 30th and 31st, circulating around a deep depression to the west.

(picture courtesy Niall Dollard)

4

WIND & ELEMENTS

F

REQUENCY OF WIND DIRECTION

CO. CLARE

SHANNON AIRPORT 8.2 200° 28 29/14 240° 36 9/0319 0 2 40 0 0 0 0 0

210° 36 29/1325

CO. CORK

CORK AIRPORT 7.8 200° 24 8/17 190° 42 8/1647 0 3 7 0 0 0 0 8

CO. DONEGAL

MALIN HEAD 10.5 210° 29 29/18 120° 42 8/1925 0 6 24 0 0 0 2 4

CO. DUBLIN

CASEMENT AERODROME 7.5 190° 27 8/21 190° 44 8/2006 0 3 9 0 0 0 3 1

DUBLIN AIRPORT 8.4 270° 27 9/13 250° 38 30/1857 0 2 4 0 0 0 3 1

CO. KERRY

VALENTIA OBSERVATORY 7.4 200° 25 8/17 200° 38 8/1610 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 1

CO. KILKENNY

KILKENNY 6.0 190° 22 8/18 190° 35 8/1654 0 1 2 n/a 0 n/a

----270° 22 9/10

CO. MAYO

BELMULLET 10.0 210° 32 29/16 210° 45 29/1453 0 7 29 0 0 0 1 5

KNOCK AIRPORT 7.5 200° 26 29/15 200° 41 29/1401 0 3 7 0 0 0 0 8

CO. MONAGHAN

CLONES 6.0 300° 22 9/13 290° 31 9/1251 0 0 0 n/a 0 n/a

----210° 31 29/1624

CO. OFFALY

BIRR 5.9 160° 18 8/17 160° 30 8/1720 0 0 0 n/a 0 n/a

----260° 18 9/11 ----260° 30 9/1030

CO. WESTMEATH

MULLINGAR II 5.6 180° 19 29/14 170° 29 8/1754 0 0 0 n/a 0 n/a

----230° 29 30/1347

CO. WEXFORD

ROSSLARE 9.0 030° 25 3/12 200° 41 8/1747 0 4 16 0 0 0 3 2

240° 41 9/0858

W

IND

((KNOTS))

E

LE

EME

ENTS

County /

Station

Valentia Observatory

Dublin Airport

NW

SW

W

SE

NE

N

E

S

Calm: 0.5%

_{Calm: 0.0%}

0 1 2 3 4%

July 2006

Mean Max. 10-min. mean Max. Gust Days with Hours with

speed dir. speed date/hour dir. speed date/time gales gale gusts gale gusts Snow Snow Lying Hail Thunder Fog

N

NE

NW

SW

W

SE

E

S

2% 4%

6% 8%

2% 4%

5

MARINE & PRESSURE

HHoouurrllyy w

wiinndd aanndd w

waavvee ccoonnddiittiioonnss aatt M

M11 ((5533°°0077’’NN,, 1111°°1122’’W

W))

Wind Speed

Sea Temperature

Wave Height

dd

ee

gg

rree

ee

ss

ffrr

oo

mm

nn

oo

rrtt

hh

kknn

oo

ttss

°°CC

360

300

200

100

0

19

18

17

16

15

14 40

30

20

10

0

1 5 10 15 DATE 20 25 31

M

E

EA

AN

N

A

T

TM

MO

OS

SP

PH

HE

ER

RIIC

C

P

R

RE

ES

SS

SU

UR

RE

E

Mean sea level pressure values for the month ranged

narrowly, from around 1016hPa in the northwest to

1019hPa in the southeast, close to the normal values

for July. Pressure was highest around mid-month,

when anticyclonic weather dominated; the highest

pressure value, 1034.3hPa, was recorded at Clones

on the 14th. Pressure fell across the country late in

the month as a depression lay off the west coast; the

lowest pressure of the month, 991.3hPa, was

measured at Belmullet on the 29th.

M

Meeaann ddaaiillyy M

Meeaann SSeeaa LLeevveell pprreessssuurree

mm

ee

ttrr

ee

ss

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

990 1000 1010 1020 1030 1040

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

40˚N 50˚N 60˚N

H

1027

₁₀₂₁

H

L

1015

1016

1

1016

1016

1024

1024

--

•

•

July 2006

MARINE

OBSERVATIONS FROM

IRISH

MARINE

DATA

BUOY

NETWORK

Monthly mean MSL pressure, based on 1200 UTC values

SSuum

mm

maarryy ooff M

Meeaann M

Moonntthhllyy VVaalluueess

temp. speed wind height height (°C) (knots) (knots) (m.) (m.)

M1 15.8 11.1 31 2.0 4.5

M2 13.6 10.6 30 0.6 2.9

M3 16.3 n/a n/a 2.0 4.8

M4 15.8 11.8 30 1.6 4.8

M5 16.6 12.0 29 1.2 4.3

Malin 15.2 (1.3°C above normal)

Head



M1



_M5

z

Malin Head

M4

_



M2

M3

_

6

AGMET / LABORATORY

CO. CLARE

SHANNON AIRPORT 17.9 17.9 17.6 CARRON 17.3 17.2

CO. CORK

FERMOY (MOORE PARK) 18.4 17.8 18.0 CORK AIRPORT 17.1 16.9 16.8 SHERKIN ISLAND 17.7 17.9 BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) 17.8 17.2 18.0

CO. DONEGAL

MALIN HEAD 16.6 16.5 16.4

CO. DUBLIN

DUBLIN AIRPORT 18.1 18.2 18.5 CASEMENT AERODROME 19.0 18.7 18.1

CO. KERRY

VALENTIA OBSERVATORY 18.3 18.5 19.0

CO. KILKENNY

KILKENNY 19.5 19.5 19.6

CO. LIMERICK

MOUNT RUSSELL 17.2 17.8

CO. LOUTH

ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE) 16.8 17.1 17.3

CO. MAYO

BELMULLET 17.6 18.2 18.7 STRAIDE 17.0 KNOCK AIRPORT 15.9 16.1 16.7

CO. MEATH

WARRENSTOWN 18.6 19.5 19.2

CO. MONAGHAN

CLONES 18.2 18.3 18.3

CO. OFFALY

BIRR 18.8 19.0 18.2

CO. TIPPERARY

FETHARD (PARSONSHILL) 17.3 18.2

CO. WATERFORD

DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) 18.3 18.6

CO. WESTMEATH

MULLINGAR II 17.9 18.1 18.6

CO. WEXFORD

JOHNSTOWN CASTLE 19.4 18.7 19.1 ROSSLARE 19.1 18.6 18.2 JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK 18.8 18.7 18.3 CLONROCHE (KNOXTOWN) 17.6 17.6 17.6

100mm 200mm 300mm

County/ Station

Soil Temperatures at 0900UTC

Mean 100mm

Soil Temperatures (°C)

at 0900UTC

(difference from 1961-90 normals in brackets)

°C

Soil Moisture Deficits (mm)

10th of month / end of month

(0 represents field capacity, -10 saturation)

16.6

(+2.0)

15.9

18.2

(+3.3)

17.9

(+3.0)

18.3

(+2.5)

19.5

(+3.2)

19.1

(+2.4)

18.8

(+2.8)

17.1

(+1.8)

17.9

(+2.7)

19.0

(+3.3)

12/7

21/26

32/37

45/31

58/69

_44/60

33/61

49/52

46/46

15/-2

51/52

60/79

17.6

(+2.4)

SO2-S

„ „ „

SO4-S

z z z

(μgs/m3₎

electrical conductivity

(

μ

S/cm)

Chemical Analysis of Precipitation and Air Samples

at Valentia Observatory

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31

0 50 100 150 200 250 3 4 5 6 7 8 PRECIPITATION AIR

Acid rain occurs when pollutants combine with moisture in the air to form sulphuric or nitric acid. pH is the simplest way of measuring the acidity of precipitation. Usually pH of 7.00 is considered neutral but this is not the case in rainfall samples. Pure water in the atmosphere has an equilibrium pH value of 5.65 at 20°C owing to carbon dioxide in the air dissolving to form carbonic acid. Any value below pH 5.65 is considered acid while any value above is considered alkaline.

Sulphur dioxide and sulphate in air contribute to the formation of sulphuric acid; nitrate in air contributes to the formation of nitric acid.

Conductivity measures the total ion activity in the rainfall, i.e. the higher the conductivity the greater the number of ions present.

pH

July 2006

pH and electrical conductivity are not available on dry days (<0.2mm)

7

AGMET

July 2006

Co. Cavan 1-10 18.7 - 7 2 21.5 12.5 17.0 - 11.2 1 0 126 70 9.3 1 0 - - 41.7 -

Cavan (Loreto) 11-20 1.4 - 2 1 24.5 11.4 18.0 - 6.0 14 0 135 81 3.1 14 0 - - 88.1 - 21-end 43.1 - 7 6 23.9 14.4 19.2 - 12.0 30 0 162 101 10.5 27 0 - - 61.0 -

month 63.2 - 16 9 23.3 12.8 18.1 - 6.0 14 0 424 252 3.1 14 0 - - 190.8 -

Co. Cork 1-10 14.7 - 3 3 20.8 13.0 16.9 - 9.8 2 0 125 69 3.5 10 0 17.8 17.5 37.2 -

Fermoy 11-20 0.0 - 0 0 24.2 9.4 16.8 - 4.9 14 0 124 73 0.7 16 0 18.3 17.9 109.3 - 21-end 11.5 - 6 4 22.4 14.4 18.4 - 11.8 22 0 154 92 4.2 22 0 19.1 18.7 54.5 - month 26.2 48 9 7 22.5 12.3 17.4 2.2 4.9 14 0 403 234 0.7 16 0 18.4 18.0 201.0 137

Co. Donegal 1-10 32.0 - 9 7 19.1 11.9 15.5 - 9.0 4 0 111 55 5.9 3 0 - - - -

Glenties 11-20 1.1 - 1 1 23.6 11.1 17.4 - 5.7 14 0 129 76 4.9 14 0 - - - - 21-end 62.2 - 10 8 21.7 14.3 18.0 - 12.6 23 0 150 88 10.3 23 0 - - - - month 95.3 98 20 16 21.5 12.5 17.0 2.9 5.7 14 0 390 219 4.9 14 0 - - - -

Co. Kerry 1-10 17.6 - 6 2 20.9 12.9 16.9 - 10.9 8 0 125 69 5.4 8 0 - - 42.9 -

Ardfert 11-20 0.0 - 0 0 24.6 11.6 18.1 - 7.4 13 0 137 82 3.4 13 0 - - 94.8 - 21-end 23.4 - 10 8 21.5 14.4 18.0 - 12.9 31 0 149 87 8.0 27 0 - - 43.3 - month 41.0 - 16 10 22.3 13.0 17.7 2.7 7.4 13 0 411 238 3.4 13 0 - - 181.0 -

Co. Louth 1-10 13.7 - 3 3 20.5 11.3 15.9 - 9.4 7 0 115 59 8.9 3 0 16.3 16.6 - -

Ardee 11-20 4.0 - 3 2 24.2 9.5 16.9 - 4.4 14 0 125 73 3.8 14 0 15.8 16.4 - - 21-end 19.4 - 4 3 24.0 14.4 19.2 - 11.5 23 0 163 101 9.5 23 0 18.2 18.6 - - month 37.1 70 10 8 22.9 11.8 17.4 2.8 4.4 14 0 402 233 3.8 14 0 16.8 17.3 - -

Co. Waterford 1-10 19.9 - 4 3 21.4 13.3 17.4 - 8.8 1 0 129 73 8.2 1 0 - 18.1 48.2 - Dungarvan 11-20 0.1 - 0 0 23.0 10.0 16.5 - 5.3 14 0 121 69 4.5 14 0 - 18.2 102.1 - 21-end 21.6 - 6 4 22.3 14.2 18.3 - 11.5 30 0 153 91 10.4 23 0 - 19.4 76.3 - month 41.6 - 10 7 22.2 12.6 17.4 1.9 5.3 14 0 403 233 4.5 14 0 - 18.6 226.6 139

Co. Wexford 1-10 39.7 - 5 2 20.9 13.3 17.1 - 11.2 1 0 127 71 6.7 1 0 18.1 17.8 45.9 -

Johnstown Castle 11-20 0.0 - 0 0 22.0 12.7 17.4 - 10.0 13 0 129 73 5.3 14 0 19.2 19.3 96.5 - 21-end 12.6 - 4 4 22.0 14.3 18.2 - 12.7 23 0 151 89 5.0 30 0 20.8 20.1 71.4 - month 52.3 92 9 6 21.6 13.4 17.5 2.7 10.0 13 0 407 234 5.0 30 0 19.4 19.1 213.8 125

amount % of average rain days wet days mean max. mean min. mean daily diff. from average lowest min. date days with air frost degree days > 4.4°C degree days > 10.0°C lowest "grass-min." date days with ground frost mean 10cm at 0900h mean 30cm at 0900h total no. of hours % of average

S

Stta

attiio

on

n

period

R

T

S

(MM) (HOURS)

10-

A

S

M

M

P

P

E

E

((P

P..E

E..))

ANNDD

S

S

M

M

County/ P.E. (mm) Soil Moisture (mm) Station Period Amount Deficit Accum’ltd Deficit Surplus

M

M

E

E

((

))

C

C

A

A P

P

County Station Monthly Monthly Rainfall (mm) Evaporation (mm)

Clare Kilmaley 84.0 105.5

Cork Fermoy (Moorepark) 26.2 123.6

Kerry Valentia Observatory 102.1 85.5

Kildare Poulaphuca n/a n/a

Mayo Newport (Furnace) 58.9 83.9

Offaly Derrygreenagh 59.1 113.4

Waterford Dungarvan (Carriglea) 41.6 116.5

Wexford Johnstown Castle 52.3 162.2

P

P..E

E..

(Penman)

County/ total for Station month(mm)

G

G

S

S

R

R

(MJ/sq. m.)

10-day totals Total for 1-10 11-20 21-end month

22.6 - 30 13 26.8 25 55 -41.9 - 19 36 91.3

34.1 - 53 23 51.3 38 91 68.7 11 102 -154.1

Co.Clare Shannon Airport Co.Cork Cork Airport Co.Donegal Malin Head Co.Dublin Dublin Airport Casement Aerodrome Co Kerry

Valentia Obs. Co.Kilkenny Kilkenny Co.Mayo Belmullet Knock Airport Co.Monaghan Clones Co.Offaly Birr Co.Westmeath Mullingar Co.Wexford Rosslare

113

116

91

114 110

91

115

86 90

100

101

104

115

156.46 208.37 154.70 519.53

164.43 230.97 184.27 579.67

155.49 236.49 151.87 543.85

156.93 234.40 200.55 591.88

167.71 210.24 159.97 537.92

154.60 217.62 169.91 542.13

152.27 227.66 172.66 552.59

S

J

1-10 Valentia Obs. 11-20

21-end month Co. Wexford

Saturday 1st:Dry overnight with clear spells and light winds. Some rain along western coasts during the morning, but mostly dry and sunny further east. There were isolated showers during the afternoon, mainly in the north, but it was dry and sunny elsewhere. The evening was dry apart from patchy drizzle along the southwest coast. Winds were light to moderate southerly.

Rainfall: nil to 2mm, heaviest at Belmullet Temperature: max. 17°C to 24°C, min. 9°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 1 to 16 hours, sunniest at Dublin Airport, 1 hour at Belmullet

Sunday 2nd:After a dry start, showers developed by early morning, some of which were thundery in the east. Isolated showers during the afternoon, with mist patches also. Some sunny spells in parts of the west. The evening and night were mostly dry. Winds were light, northerly in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 5mm, heaviest at Rosslare

Temperature: max. 15°C to 24°C, min. 10°C to 15°C

Sunshine: 1 to 8 hours, sunniest at Knock Airport, 1 hour at Belmullet

Monday 3rd:Some thundery showers along the east coast at first, dying out by morning; elsewhere overnight it was dry with some patches of mist. A dry morning with mist persisting in places and some sunshine also. The afternoon had some scattered showers, but it was generally dry and sunny. Light to moderate northerly winds.

Rainfall: nil to 4mm, heaviest at Cork Airport Temperature: max. 15°C to 23°C, min. 11°C to 15°C

Sunshine: nil to 15 hours, sunniest at Knock Airport, nil at Cork Airport

Tuesday 4th: Very heavy showers at first, with over 12mm falling in less than an hour in Rosslare, with clear spells elsewhere. Showers or longer outbreaks of rain, thundery at times, continued into the afternoon, particularly in the east and midlands. During the late afternoon the rain died out and it cleared to give a warm evening with sunny spells. Very warm and humid throughout. Winds were light, northerly in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 24mm, heaviest at Rosslare, nil at Valentia and Belmullet Temperature: max. 16°C to 24°C, min. 11°C to 15°C

Sunshine: nil to 8 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, nil at Kilkenny and Valentia

Wednesday 5th:Mostly dry overnight. Misty in places during the morning with sunny spells developing in all but northern areas. Some heavy scattered showers also. Dry and sunny again during the afternoon while cloud persisted in the north. A mostly dry evening, with some drizzle reaching western coastal areas by early night. Winds were light and variable in direction.

Rainfall: nil to trace generally, 8mm at Cork Airport Temperature: max. 17°C to 25°C, min. 11°C to 15°C

Sunshine: 3 to 12 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 3 hours at Malin Head

Thursday 6th:The day was generally warm and mostly cloudy with patches of rain or drizzle and some fog patches; however parts of the east and southeast remained dry with some sunny spells. Afternoon temperatures were a degree or two above normal in some eastern areas. Light southwesterly winds increased to moderate and gusty during the day.

Rainfall: nil to 1mm generally, 7mm at Belmullet, 3mm at Valentia Temperature: max. 17°C to 23°C, min. 12°C to 15°C

Sunshine: trace to 9 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, trace at Valentia

Friday 7th:A dry night in most parts, however there was some rain or showers, mainly along Atlantic coasts. The day was a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. The east of the country remained relatively dry, while there were some heavy showers in the northwest. Winds were westerly in direction, light to moderate with occasional gusts in the north.

Rainfall: nil to 4 mm, heaviest at Knock Airport Temperature: max. 16°C to 21°C, min. 10°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 3 to 9 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 3 hours at Valentia

Saturday 8th: Wet and windy weather swept eastwards across the country in the morning. The rain was persistent and heavy in many areas, with heaviest falls over the western half of the country. The rain eased gradually in the evening. Some short sunny spells in eastern areas at first, but otherwise dull. Light to moderate southwesterly winds, backing southeasterly and increasing later in the day.

Rainfall: 6 to 28 mm, heaviest at Valentia, 6mm at Dublin Airport Temperature: max. 14°C to 16°C, min. 9°C to 12°C

Sunshine: nil to 2 hours, sunniest at Malin Head

Sunday 9th:Patches of mostly light rain or drizzle overnight. The morning was largely dull with scattered showers or patches of rain and drizzle, with some short sunny spells. By afternoon, there was dry weather with sunny spells everywhere. Winds were southwesterly, light to moderate and gusty, veering west to northwesterly and increasing before gradually easing in the evening and backing south to southwesterly.

Rainfall: trace to 2mm, heaviest at Clones Temperature: max. 16°C to 21°C, min. 9°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 2 to 12 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 2 hours at Casement Aerodrome

Monday 10th:Cloudy weather moved eastwards in the morning. It was generally dry except for patchy drizzle in the west. In the afternoon there were scattered showers and sunny spells. Apart from one or two showers on northwestern coasts it was mostly dry and clear during the evening. South to southwesterly winds, light to moderate but freshening during the afternoon. Rainfall: nil to 7mm, heaviest at Knock Airport, nil at Rosslare

Temperature: max. 16°C to 22°C, min. 7°C to 13°C Sunshine: 2 to 8 hours, sunniest at Casement Aerodrome

Tuesday 11th:A few showers in the north and northwest during the night, otherwise dry. A fine dry day in all areas with sunny periods in most areas, the exception being the northwest. Remaining generally fine during the evening, but a little rain and drizzle over the north and northwest. Temperatures near or above normal in most areas. Winds were from a south to southwesterly direction, mainly light, but moderate in some northern areas.

Rainfall: nil to trace

Temperature: max.17°C to 22°C, min. 8°C to 13°C

Sunshine: 3 to 13 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 3 hours at Malin Head

Wednesday 12th:Rain and drizzle in the west and northwest overnight, mainly dry elsewhere with clear spells. Sunshine in the east at first during the morning, but the rain and drizzle continued to spread southeastwards. A cloudy afternoon with drizzle in some midland and eastern areas; a clearance reached the west by early afternoon. Sunshine in most areas by late afternoon. Winds were light to moderate, westerly in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 2mm, heaviest at Clones

Temperature: max. 16°C to 20°C, min. 9°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 2 to 8 hours, sunniest at Belmullet, 2 hours at Rosslare

Thursday 13th:A ridge of high pressure over the country. Dry throughout the period with sunny or clear spells, but cloudier in northern parts of the country. Light, mainly northerly winds throughout.

Rainfall: nil

Temperature: max.16°C to 22°C, min. 5°C to 13°C, ground temperatures

down to -1°C at Birr

Sunshine: 5 to 15 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 5 hours at Clones

Friday 14th: Very slight ground frost early. Dry and becoming warm with clear or sunny spells throughout, except in parts of the north midlands and northeast where it was somewhat cloudier. Light variable winds throughout but sea breezes in coastal areas kept temperatures near normal.

Rainfall: nil

Temperature: max. 18°C to 25°C, min. 6°C to 13°C, ground temperatures

below zero at Dublin Airport and Birr

Sunshine: 14 to 15 hours

Saturday 15th:Cool overnight with clear skies and ground temperatures near zero. Very warm, dry and sunny everywhere. Light variable winds generally but sea breezes in coastal areas. Highest temperatures in midland areas and cooler along eastern coasts.

Rainfall: nil

Temperature: max. 18°C to 26°C, min. 8°C to 14°C Sunshine: 14 to 15 hours

Sunday 16th: Most areas had a very warm and sunny day with temperatures well above normal, particularly in the midlands and east. Slightly cloudier along northwestern coastal areas, but becoming fair there in the afternoon and evening. Fine and clear after dark with temperatures falling only slowly. Winds were light and variable, stronger on northwestern coasts.

Rainfall: nil

Temperature: max. 19°C to 27°C, min. 7°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 5 to 15 hours, sunniest at Valentia, 5 hours at Belmullet

Monday 17th:Early drizzle in the northwest turned to mist but the cloud tended to break up during the late morning to give some sunny spells. Elsewhere it was a fine, sunny and dry day. Very warm in the midlands, however coastal areas were considerably cooler because of sea breezes. Winds were generally light and variable in direction.

Rainfall: nil to trace

Temperature: max. 19°C to 30°C, min. 9°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 5 to 15 hours, sunniest at Dublin Airport, 5 hours at Belmullet

Tuesday 18th:Dry and warm during the night with mist or fog in many areas; these quickly cleared during the morning to give a dry and sunny day with very high temperatures, reaching over 30°C in places. Some coastal areas were cooler due to sea breezes. It remained very warm during the evening. Long sunny periods in all areas. Light variable winds.

Rainfall: nil

Temperature: max. 19°C to 30°C, min 10°C to 16°C

Sunshine: 11 to 15 hours, sunniest at Cork Airport, 11 hours at Malin Head

Wednesday 19th: Mist or fog cleared during the morning to give another hot, mostly dry day with spells of hazy sunshine in most areas. Afternoon temperatures well above normal generally, again reaching over 30°C in places. Becoming cloudier in the afternoon with a few spots of light rain or drizzle. Continuing very mild after dark. Winds were light to moderate, variable or southeasterly but were gusty southwesterly for a time on western coasts. Rainfall: nil to <1mm

Temperature: max. 21°C to 31°C, min. 14°C to 18°C

Sunshine: 2 to 10 hours, sunniest at Clones, 2 hours at Cork Airport

Thursday 20th:It was another very warm and mostly dry day with variable cloud amounts and any light rain or drizzle dying out by the afternoon. Sunny spells generally brought afternoon temperatures well above normal. Mild and misty in places after dark. Light variable or southeasterly winds gradually veered southwesterly in the afternoon and increased slightly. Winds were moderate at times on exposed coasts.

Rainfall: nil to trace generally, 2mm at Malin Head Temperature: max. 20°C to 27°C, min. 12°C to 18°C

Sunshine: 1 to 9 hours, sunniest at Cork Airport, 1 hour at Belmullet

Friday 21st: A calm warm night, fine in most areas, although some mist or fog developed in places and also a little drizzle at times. Warm during the day with any mist or fog dissipating quickly. Sunny spells in most areas, but isolated showers also, though rainfall amounts were quite small. Warm during the evening with very isolated showers. Light winds, mainly southerly in direction. Rainfall: nil to trace generally, 1mm at Knock Airport

Temperature: max. 18°C to 26°C, min. 9°C to 16°C Sunshine: 4 to 9 hours, sunniest at Belmullet and Kilkenny

Saturday 22nd:Dry generally during the night. By early morning, however, heavy rain approached the southwest and spread northwards throughout the day, giving some heavy falls, particularly in the southwest. Sunny spells in most parts during the afternoon. Light to moderate winds, variable in direction. Rainfall: nil to 16mm, heaviest at Valentia, nil in the east

Temperature: max. 18°C to 25°C, min. 11°C to 16°C

Sunshine: 3 to 8 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 3 hours at Clones

Sunday 23rd:Dry overnight apart from some light showers in the west and patchy drizzle near southern coasts. The day was mainly dry with scattered light showers. These showers became heavy for a short while in Ulster during the afternoon. Warm. Sunny, particularly in the southeast. Winds were generally light, south or southwesterly, strengthening in the west during the afternoon. Rainfall: nil to <1mm, heaviest at Knock Airport

Temperature: max. 19°C to 24°C, min. 11°C to 16°C Sunshine: 4 to 13 hours, sunniest at Rosslare

Monday 24th:Mainly dry at first with patchy light rain in the west and north. Heavy thundery rain began to push into the southwest around dawn. Thundery rain moved northwards during the morning and afternoon to affect the western side of the country. Dry elsewhere. Warm. Long spells of sunshine in the east, cloudier further west and north. Light southerly winds.

Rainfall: nil to 8mm, heaviest at Belmullet, nil in the east Temperature: max. 19°C to 25°C, min. 12°C to 16°C

Sunshine: trace to 13 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, trace at Belmullet

Tuesday 25th:A warm, southerly airflow persisted over Ireland. A dry day in most parts, however showers reached the west coast by mid-afternoon and moved northwards during the evening. Warm and sunny, particularly in the east. Winds were light and variable in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 3mm, heaviest at Knock Airport Temperature: max. 21°C to 28°C, min. 12°C to 17°C

Sunshine: 1 to 13 hours, sunniest at Kilkenny, 1 hour at Knock Airport

Wednesday 26th: Mild and humid overnight with mist and fog patches and some light rain or drizzle on southwest and west coasts. The mist and fog cleared during the morning and it was a very warm and mostly dry day with scattered showers, mostly light. The eastern half of the country received most sunshine and inland temperatures were well above normal. Mild and humid again after dark. Winds were light and variable or southerly in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 5mm, heaviest at Malin Head Temperature: max. 20°C to 26°C, min. 12°C to 16°C Sunshine: 3 to 9 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 3 hours at Birr

Thursday 27th:Clear spells in the east while in the west it was cloudy with mist, fog and drizzle in places. During the morning rain began to affect the southwest and moved further up the west coast as the day progressed. Another heavy pulse of rain moved northeastwards from the southwest coast across the west midlands, giving some heavy falls. Winds were light variable or southwesterly in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 8mm, heaviest at Valentia

Temperature: max. 18°C to 26°C, min. 11°C to 16°C

Sunshine: trace to 10 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, trace at Valentia

Friday 28th:Early rain affected most parts, clearing the country by late morning. An overcast day generally with just a few sunny spells. An organised band of showers developed in the north midlands by early afternoon and spread northwards to give some heavy falls. The southeast remained dry. Winds were light, variable or southerly in direction.

Rainfall: nil to 18mm, heaviest at Clones, nil at Rosslare Temperature: max. 18°C to 24°C, min. 14°C to 17°C Sunshine: trace to 3 hours, sunniest at Dublin Airport

Saturday 29th:Mist or fog in many inland areas during the night, with patches of drizzle or light rain also. Rain and drizzle persisted in most areas during the morning with strengthening southeasterly winds. This pattern persisted throughout the day, before clearing during the evening to scattered showers, mainly in the west, while winds eased also. Warm with temperatures above normal generally. Most sunshine was recorded in southern areas. Winds were southeast to southerly, moderate to fresh, up to gale force for a time before easing during the evening.

Rainfall: 1 to 17mm, heaviest at Valentia, 1mm at Casement Aerodrome Temperature: max. 19°C to 24°C, min. 12°C to 15°C

Sunshine: 2 to 7 hours, sunniest at Cork Airport, 2 hours at Malin Head

Sunday 30th:Mostly dry overnight with just a scattering of light showers near western and southern coasts. Around dawn, heavy thundery showers began to spread into western areas. The thundery showers continued throughout the day, becoming widespread at times during the afternoon and evening. Long spells of sunshine in the east and south, cloudier further west. Winds were moderate, south or southwesterly in direction.

Rainfall: trace to 14mm, heaviest at Mullingar, trace at Rosslare Temperature: max. 18°C to 23°C, min. 10°C to 14°C

Sunshine: 4 to 11 hours, sunniest at Rosslare, 4 hours at Valentia

Monday 31st: Showers or patches of light rain during the night. Showers continued during the day, some of which were heavy or prolonged and thundery in eastern areas. There were spells of rain in northern areas during the afternoon. Showers became more isolated during the evening. Sunshine amounts were variable, with most sunshine recorded in the northwest. Cooler than recent days. Southerly winds veered westerly during the day, fresh to strong in many areas.

Rainfall: 1 to 12mm, heaviest at Clones, 1 hour at Casement Aerodrome Temperature: max. 16°C to 20°C, min. 11°C to 15°C

Sunshine: nil to 9 hours, sunniest at Belmullet, nil at Valentia

9

DIARY

It was a dry month over most of

the country, but localised heavy

falls on individual days brought

totals above normal in a few

places, while Atlantic coastal

areas were generally wetter

throughout the month. Totals

ranged from 13mm at Dublin

(Merrion Square) to 161mm at

Maam Valley, Co. Galway. It was

the driest July since 1989 at

Shannon Airport and at most

Dublin stations. Percentage of

normal values ranged from 29%

at both Casement Aerodrome

and Dublin (Phoenix Park) to

140% at Valentia Observatory.

After spells of rain in all areas early

in the month, there followed a

period of dry weather everywhere

around mid-month, before rain

returned to all areas during the final

week. The heaviest falls of the

month were recorded on the 8th,

when a band of heavy rain,

associated with a depression to the

north of the country, produced

daily totals of between 10 and

40mm generally. The highest daily

fall, 38.5mm, was measured at

Maam Valley, Co. Galway, on this

day. The number of wetdays during

the month (days with 1mm or more of

rainfall) ranged widely; there were

only between 3 and 6 wetdays at

many eastern and southeastern

stations, but between 12 and 16

wetdays were recorded in parts of

the southwest, west and north.

10

RAINFALL

CO. CAVAN

CAVAN (LORETO COLLEGE) 63.2 14.0 28 16 9

CO. CLARE

SHANNON AIRPORT 28.5 50 9.8 8 14 6 CARRON 76.3 79 22.7 8 21 14

CO. CORK

FERMOY (MOORE PARK) 26.2 48 9.1 8 9 7 CORK AIRPORT 58.6 90 14.2 8 15 8 SHERKIN ISLAND 46.7 81 17.5 8 11 8 BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) 50.5 14.0 8 12 8

CO. DONEGAL

MALIN HEAD 74.1 103 11.7 8 17 13 BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) 68.4 94 12.0 31 16 13 GLENTIES 95.3 98 23.1 25 20 16

CO. DUBLIN

DUBLIN (PHOENIX PARK) 14.6 29 5.5 28 8 3 DUBLIN AIRPORT 18.2 6.4 8 10 6 CASEMENT AERODROME 13.5 29 6.4 8 5 4 DUBLIN (MERRION SQUARE) 12.8 30 6.8 28 7 3

CO. GALWAY

GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.) 62.9 93 15.1 30 14 11 MAAM VALLEY 160.5 38.5 8 20 13 CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK 110.2 120 27.5 8 21 16 BALLYGAR 54.2 87 19.1 8 16 8

CO. KERRY

VALENTIA OBSERVATORY 102.1 140 28.1 8 18 14 ARDFERT (LISCAHANE) 41.0 9.4 8 16 10

CO. KILKENNY

KILKENNY 39.5 75 9.2 8 8 7

CO. LIMERICK

MOUNT RUSSELL 47.1 12.1 30 14 10

CO. LOUTH

ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE) 37.1 70 9.8 28 10 8

CO. MAYO

BELMULLET 71.0 104 24.0 8 17 12 STRAIDE 51.9 82 10.6 8 17 12 KNOCK AIRPORT 53.9 8.9 8 20 14

CO. MEATH

WARRENSTOWN 25.6 46 9.7 8 8 5

CO. MONAGHAN

CLONES 67.9 113 16.2 28 14 10

CO. OFFALY

BIRR 49.7 84 12.9 8 12 7 DERRYGREENAGH 59.1 102 13.6 30 10 8

CO. SLIGO

ARDTARMON 48.8 10.5 25 15 12

CO. TIPPERARY

FETHARD (PARSONSHILL) 47.0 11.5 3 13 8

CO. WATERFORD

WATERFORD (TYCOR) 34.0 61 11.3 8 5 4 DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) 41.6 12.5 28 10 7

CO. WESTMEATH

MULLINGAR II 48.5 80 14.3 30 14 9

CO. WEXFORD

JOHNSTOWN CASTLE 52.3 92 25.4 3 9 6 ROSSLARE 49.2 96 26.1 3 6 5 JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK 36.4 64 11.2 8 6 5 CLONROCHE (KNOXTOWN) 66.5 23.6 8 8 4

County/

Station

Total % of

Number of

Amount 1961-90 Most in

Raindays Wetdays

(mm) average a day / date (>0.2mm) (>1mm)

Drier than normal

in most places,

very dry in

Dublin area

11

RAINFALL

TToottaall rraaiinnffaallll ((m

mm

m))

PPeerrcceennttaaggee ooff nnoorrm

maall rraaiinnffaallll

00 55 1100 1155 2200 2255

11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 1100 1111 1122 1133 1144 1155 1166 1177 1188 1199 2200 2211 2222 2233 2244 2255 2266 2277 2288 2299 3300 3311

Valentia Observatory

Dublin Airport

Clones

Daily 0-24h rainfall values (mm)

12

TEMPERATURE

Mean air temperatures for the month were over

two degrees higher than normal generally and

were over three degrees above normal in places.

Temperatures were consistently above normal

throughout the month, but the period between

the 16th and 20th was particularly hot. Mean

temperatures ranged from 15.9°C at Knock

Airport to 18.7°C at Dublin (Merrion Square). It

was the warmest July for between 11 and 17 years

at many stations and the warmest on record at

Clones, Casement Aerodrome and Malin Head

(where temperature records extend back to 1885).

Many stations recorded their highest maximum

temperatures since August 1995 in the period

between the 17th and 20th. Values of over 30°C were

measured at a number of stations on the 18th and

19th; the highest value, 32.3°C, was recorded at

Elphin, Co. Roscommon, on the 19th, the highest

temperature in Ireland since June 1976. The values of

29.9°C and 31.0°C at Belmullet and Casement

Aerodrome respectively were the highest values for

any month on record at these stations. The lowest air

temperature of the month, 4.4°C, was measured at

Ardee (Boharnamoe), Co. Louth, on the 14th, while

the lowest grass minimum value, -1.3°C, was recorded

at Birr on the 13th.

Warmest July

on record in places

00 55 1100 1155 2200

11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 1100 1111 1122 1133 1144 1155 1166 1177 1188 1199 2200 2211 2222 2233 2244 2255 2266 2277 2288 2299 3300 3311 1100

1155 2200 2255 3300

11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 1100 1111 1122 1133 1144 1155 1166 1177 1188 1199 2200 2211 2222 2233 2244 2255 2266 2277 2288 2299 3300 3311

Daily 0-24h maximum temperatures

(°C)

Daily 0-24h minimum temperatures (°C)

‹

Valentia Observatory

Dublin Airport

Clones

‹

Valentia Observatory

Dublin Airport

Clones

M

Meeaann TTeem

mppeerraattuurree

(difference from 1961-90 normals)

SCALE +1.0°C

+2.4°C -1.0°C

+2.7°C +2.6°C

+2.5°C

+2.3°C +3.2°C

+2.2°C

+1.9°C

+1.7°C +1.8°C

+2.4°C

13

TEMPERATURE

CO. CAVAN

CAVAN (LORETO COLLEGE) 23.3 12.8 18.1 29.8 18 6.0 14 3.1 14 0 0 CO. CLARE

SHANNON AIRPORT 22.2 13.7 18.0 2.2 30.2 18 6.9 13 1.9 13 0 0 CARRON 20.6 12.7 16.7 2.5 28.0 18 5.2 13 0.5 13 0 0

CO. CORK

FERMOY (MOORE PARK) 22.5 12.3 17.4 2.2 28.7 18 4.9 14 0.7 16 0 0 CORK AIRPORT 20.4 12.7 16.6 1.7 25.3 18 8.3 11 3.2 16 0 0 SHERKIN ISLAND 20.2 13.9 17.1 2.2 25.4 18 9.0 13 14 4.8 13 0 0 BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) 22.0 11.9 17.0 28.0 18 6.5 14 2.0 14 0 0

CO. DONEGAL

MALIN HEAD 19.3 13.3 16.3 2.4 25.9 19 7.8 14 5.5 14 0 0 BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) 21.3 13.6 17.5 2.9 29.5 18 9.1 14 0 GLENTIES 21.5 12.5 17.0 2.9 30.0 19 5.7 14 4.9 14 0 0

CO. DUBLIN

DUBLIN (PHOENIX PARK) 23.0 12.3 17.7 2.6 27.9 19 6.3 14 3.5 13 0 0 DUBLIN AIRPORT 22.1 12.1 17.1 26.5 19 5.4 14 -0.6 14 0 1 CASEMENT AERODROME 23.3 12.3 17.8 2.7 31.0 19 5.8 13 2.5 14 0 0 DUBLIN (MERRION SQUARE) 22.0 15.4 18.7 2.4 26.1 20 11.0 13 0

CO. GALWAY

GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.) 21.8 12.8 17.3 2.0 30.0 19 6.2 13 4.4 16 0 0 MAAM VALLEY 20.7 12.5 16.6 28.9 19 7.3 13 2.7 13 0 0 CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK 19.6 13.0 16.3 29.1 19 9.0 13 0 BALLYGAR 22.7 12.0 17.4 29.7 19 5.0 13 2.9 13 0 0

CO. KERRY

VALENTIA OBSERVATORY 19.6 13.8 16.7 1.8 26.8 19 8.7 13 4.1 13 0 0 ARDFERT (LISCAHANE) 22.3 13.0 17.7 2.7 31.0 18 7.4 13 3.4 13 0 0

CO. KILKENNY

KILKENNY 23.5 11.8 17.7 2.3 30.2 18 6.9 14 0.2 14 0 0 CO. LIMERICK

MOUNT RUSSELL 21.8 13.1 17.5 28.7 18 8.1 13 2.5 13 0 0 CO. LOUTH

ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE) 22.9 11.8 17.4 2.8 29.4 17 4.4 14 3.8 14 0 0 CO. MAYO

BELMULLET 19.9 13.1 16.5 2.4 29.9 19 8.7 14 5.9 14 0 0 STRAIDE 21.2 11.9 16.6 2.0 29.0 18 4.5 13 -0.5 14 0 2 KNOCK AIRPORT 19.9 11.9 15.9 27.5 19 7.9 13 6.1 13 0 0

CO. MEATH

WARRENSTOWN 23.2 12.0 17.6 2.7 29.0 17 5.0 13 2.0 13 0 0 CO. MONAGHAN

CLONES 22.9 12.6 17.8 3.2 28.9 18 7.1 14 2.4 13 0 0 CO. OFFALY

BIRR 22.9 12.5 17.7 2.6 30.1 18 4.8 13 -1.3 13 0 2 DERRYGREENAGH 23.7 11.8 17.8 3.1 31.1 19 5.5 13 -0.4 14 0 1

CO. SLIGO

ARDTARMON 21.6 13.3 17.5 30.1 19 9.8 13 14 7.1 14 0 0 CO. TIPPERARY

FETHARD (PARSONSHILL) 22.2 12.8 17.5 29.0 18 8.1 13 5.8 13 0 0 CO. WATERFORD

WATERFORD (TYCOR) 22.7 14.4 18.6 3.1 28.5 18 9.9 13 0 DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) 22.3 12.6 17.5 1.9 27.1 17 5.3 14 4.5 14 0 0

CO. WESTMEATH

MULLINGAR II 22.6 11.7 17.2 2.5 29.4 19 4.5 13 0.5 13 0 0 CO. WEXFORD

JOHNSTOWN CASTLE 21.6 13.4 17.5 2.7 26.7 19 10.0 13 5.0 30 0 0 ROSSLARE 19.6 14.3 17.0 1.9 23.3 19 11.0 11 7.5 17 0 0 JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK 21.3 12.7 17.0 1.9 27.4 18 8.0 11 7.1 11 0 0 CLONROCHE (KNOXTOWN) 21.7 11.3 16.5 27.1 18 7.5 16 2.2 11 0 0

Mean/ deviation

Mean Mean from 1961-90 Highest Lowest Lowest Days with max. min. average max./date min./date grass min./date air frost ground frost

County/

Station

°C

14

SUNSHINE

CO. CAVAN

CAVAN (LORETO COLLEGE) 6.15 12.7 14

CO. CLARE

SHANNON AIRPORT 6.62 144 41 14.8 17

CO. CORK

FERMOY (MOORE PARK) 6.48 137 40 14.9 17

CORK AIRPORT 6.72 124 41 15.1 14

SHERKIN ISLAND 6.85 118 43 14.5 15 17

BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) 7.10 15.0 14

CO. DONEGAL

MALIN HEAD 5.47 127 33 15.0 14

BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) 5.83 146 35 15.2 14

CO. DUBLIN

DUBLIN AIRPORT 7.75 145 47 15.5 1

CASEMENT AERODROME 7.50 152 46 15.0 17

CO. GALWAY

GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.) 6.83 148 42 15.1 14

CO. KERRY

VALENTIA OBSERVATORY 5.83 129 36 15.1 17

ARDFERT (LISCAHANE) 5.84 36 13.3 14

CO. KILKENNY

KILKENNY 7.39 159 45 14.8 15

CO. MAYO

BELMULLET 5.50 129 33 14.8 18

STRAIDE 6.22 14.8 14

KNOCK AIRPORT 6.09 15.1 14

CO. MONAGHAN

CLONES 6.60 154 40 15.2 15

CO. OFFALY

BIRR 6.28 148 38 14.8 15

CO. WATERFORD

DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) 7.31 139 45 14.0 13 14

CO. WESTMEATH

MULLINGAR II 7.50 164 45 15.2 17

CO. WEXFORD

JOHNSTOWN CASTLE 6.90 125 42 14.5 17

ROSSLARE 9.12 145 56 15.2 17

JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK 7.28 150 45 13.1 17

CLONROCHE (KNOXTOWN) 8.01 14.9 14

Very sunny

everywhere

July sunshine totals were well above

normal generally, especially over the east

and midlands, where totals were over

50% higher than normal. They ranged

from 170 hours at Malin Head to 283

hours at Rosslare, with percentage of

normal values between 118% of normal at

Sherkin Island, Co. Cork and 164% at

Mullingar. It was the sunniest July for

either 16 or 17 years almost everywhere.

At most stations, the sunniest period of the

month was between the 13th and 18th, when

daily values in excess of 14 hours were

widely recorded. The highest daily value of

the month, however, 15.5 hours, was

recorded at Dublin Airport on the 1st.

Global solar radiation totals ranged between

104% of normal at Valentia Observatory and

118% at Dublin Airport.

Daily mean % of % of Most in (hours/day) average possible a day/date

County/

Station

00 22 44 66 88 1100 1122 1144 1166

11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 1100 1111 1122 1133 1144 1155 1166 1177 1188 1199 2200 2211 2222 2233 2244 2255 2266 2277 2288 2299 3300 3311

Daily sunshine values(hours)

Valentia Observatory

Dublin Airport

Clones

TToottaall SSuunnsshhiinnee

(difference from 1961-90 normals)

SCALE 150%

50%

154%

144%

152% 164%

129%

148%

127%

124% 129%

145% 159%

15

WORLD WEATHER

Global weather

highlights of

the month

Rainfall generated flooding and produced landslides in central Chile between the 10th and 12th. There were 19 reported fatalities, seven of which occurred in a landslide in Chiguayante.

In Romania, thunderstorms on the first two days of the month produced flooding in the northern part of the country, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. In Turkey, flooding from heavy rains killed at least 8 people in the same period; the most significant damage was in the northeastern part of the country near the Black Sea cities of Samsun and Giresun.

Across the Korean Peninsula, heavy rainfall that began with the arrival of typhoon Ewiniar between the 10th to 14th, continued for most of the month. Flooding was blamed for hundreds of deaths in North Korea and at least 25 deaths in South Korea. Exceptional rainfall in neighbouring Japan also produced flooding and mudslides that claimed at least 22 lives. A heatwave affected a large portion

of the U.S. between the 16th and 25th. California was particularly affected, with 140 deaths attributed to temperatures of over 40°C. Significant drought extended from Arizona and New Mexico eastward to parts of the central Gulf Coast. The most severely affected areas included southern Arizona, southern Texas and central South Dakota.

July 2006

JULY RAINFALL

(percentage of

1961-1990 normal)

JULY MEAN TEMPERATURE

(difference from

1961-1990 normal)

%

200

150

125

100

75

50

0

Data supplied by NOAA Climate Prediction Centre, US Department of Commerce

+5

+3

+1

-1

-3

16

FEATURE

Because reliable instrumental records are only

widely available for around 150 years, scientists

estimate climatic conditions in the more distant

past by analysing proxy evidence from sources

such as tree rings, corals, ocean and lake

sediments, cave deposits, ice cores, boreholes,

glaciers and documentary evidence. For example,

records of Alpine glacier length, some of which

are derived from paintings and other

documentary sources, have been used to

reconstruct the time series of surface temperature

variations in south-central Europe for the last

several centuries. Studying past climates can help

us put the 20th century warming into a broader

context, better understand the climate system and

improve projections of future climate.

Starting in the late 1990s, scientists began combining

proxy evidence from many different locations in an

effort to estimate surface temperature changes

averaged over broad geographic regions during the last

few hundred to few thousand years. These large-scale

surface temperature reconstructions have enabled

researchers to estimate past temperature variations

over the northern hemisphere or even the entire globe,

often with time resolutions as fine as decades or even

individual years. This research attracted considerable

attention because the authors concluded that the

northern hemisphere was warmer during the late 20th

century than at any other time during the past

millennium. Controversy arose because many people

interpreted this result as definitive evidence of

anthropogenic causes of recent climate change, while

others criticised the methodologies and data that were

used. As a result of a request by the United States

Congress, a committee was assembled by the U.S.

National Research Council to describe and assess the

state of scientific efforts to reconstruct surface

temperature records for the earth over approximately

the last 2,000 years and also the implications of these

efforts for our understanding of global climate

change.

The committee concludes that large-scale surface

temperature reconstructions from various sources (see

chart below) yield a generally consistent picture of

temperature trends during the preceding millennium,

including relatively warm conditions centred around

A.D. 1000 (identified by some as the “Medieval Warm

Period”) and a relatively cold period (or “Little Ice

Age”) centred around 1700. The existence and extent

of a Little Ice Age from roughly 1500 to 1850 is

supported by a wide variety of evidence, including ice

cores, tree rings, borehole temperatures, glacier length

records and historical documents. It can also be said

with a high level of confidence that global mean

surface temperature was higher during the last few

decades of the 20th century than during any

comparable period in the preceding four centuries.

More information can be found on the website of the

U.S. National Academy of Sciences: dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs

Reconstructing the past global climate

Global temperature means since 900 A.D. from several sources (see text for ddetail))

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