Weather Forecast 1/3/12

The Irish Calendar uses an old Gaelic Calendar which seasons are a little unusual but based on the Irish Meteorological seasons Spring started today the 1st of March, as Winter consist of the three coldest months December, January and February.

Winter Review from Met Eireann:
Mean air temperatures for the season were between 1.2°C and 2.0°C above normal, with all three months of Winter recording above average air temperatures for the time of year. Mean air temperatures recorded in the west and southwest were the highest relative to normal, with Shannon Airport and Belmullet reporting their warmest winter since 1989 (23 years). Knock Airport reported a seasonal mean temperature of 5.5°C, its highest winter mean temperature since the station opened in 1996 (16 years). Most other stations across the country reported that it was not as warm as the winters of 2007/2008. Mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were all above average, with the majority of minimum air and grass temperatures for Winter were recorded during the cold spell at the start of February. Most lowest minimum air and grass temperatures especially in the south and southwest were the highest in the number of years, with Valentia Observatory reporting an Winter air temperature of 1.7°C and a Winter grass minimum of -3.1°C, the highest recorded at the site since 1939 (73 years) and 1989 (23 years), respectively. Other stations in the area reported their highest minimums in five to 17 years. Majority of rainfall totals were below normal for Winter across the southern half of the country and in some
parts of the east. Rainfall totals were below average in the majority of these parts during December and January, while all stations reported dry conditions in February. Most stations the east and south reported a below average number of wetdays (days with 1 mm or more) and the driest Winter since 2006 (6 years). Highest daily falls were recorded at various times, mainly on December 12th and January 29th, with the daily falls recorded at stations in the south and southwest being the lowest in six to 15 years. Percentage of normal sunshine values for Winter were nearly all below normal. Below average totals were recorded during all three months of the season except at Dublin Airport, where above normal sunshine was recorded during December, January and February leading to a slightly above normal value for the season. Stations in the southwest reported the lowest amount of sunshine hours and sunshine relative to normal, with Valentia Observatory and Shannon Airport both reporting their lowest winter sunshine since sunshine records began at the stations in 1939 (73 years) and 1945 (67 years), respectively. Other stations reported it was the dullest winter in 16 to 20 years, with Dublin Airport, who had above average sunshine this season, reporting it was the dullest winter since 2006.

The full review is available at http://www.met.ie/MetAdmin/useruploads/file/winter_summary_2011_12.pdf

Summary:
While we have had some nice mild weather of late we will see a brief return to wintry weather over the weekend with temps dropping below freezing and a risk of Sleet and even Snow for a time.

THURSDAY NIGHT:
A mainly dry night with just some light drizzle in the southern half of the country where temps will be 7c to 9c, dry with some clear spells in the Northern half  but cooler with temps of 3c to 6c.

FRIDAY:
A dry mild day with temps of 9c to 14c but cloudy in most parts except for South Leinster and Munster where there will be some good sunny spells. A band of rain will arrive in the Southwest after midnight Friday night and spread across the country.

SATURDAY:
Widespread rain will gradually clear to scattered heavy showers with cooler temps of 5c to 9c.

SATURDAY NIGHT:
Showers in the Southern half of the Country of rain will turn to Sleet and possibly even Snow for a time as temps drops, getting down to -2c in many areas by early morning, leaving ICY conditions in many areas.

SUNDAY:
A cold ICY start with possibly some more sleet showers in Eastern areas before clearing to give a a mainly dry day with temps of 4c to 7c but feeling very cold in the breeze.

SUNDAY NIGHT:
Another very cold night with temps getting down to -3c and a widespread Frost setting in.

MONDAY:
A dry day with temps rising to 7c to 9c but cold again Monday night with another frost.

OUTLOOK:
It looks to turn milder from Tuesday with some light rain in some areas during the week but also good dry spells.

Weather Forecast 29/2/12

OVERVIEW:
It will be mainly dry up to the weekend but little cooler than of late, the weekend looks quite unsettled with some rain at times and it will turn much cooler from Sunday for a few days with Frost returning Sunday night a risk of icy roads.

WEDNESDAY:
Mainly dry afternoon with some good Sunny spells in Eastern areas, temps of 10c to 14c

THURSDAY:
Cloudy with some light rain in the West but dry elsewhere with temps of 12c to 14c.

FRIDAY:
Another mainly dry day but a little cooler with temps of 9c to 12c

SATURDAY:
Looks to be a fairly wet and breezy day with temps of 9c to 12c but turning cooler in the evening as rain clears.

SUNDAY:
A cool day with temps of 6c to 9c, it’s unclear whether it will be dry, there is a risk of rain in the Southeast but current indications show it missing us and staying dry.

OUTLOOK:
Sunday night will see temps drop to -3c with some Wintry showers and Frost leaving ICY roads, it looks likely to remain cold with Frosty nights up to at least Tuesday. More details as we get closer.

Forecast with permission from Ireland’s Weather Network

Week Ahead – Mainly settled and mild, but mostly cloudy

In Brief

It appears high pressure will be charge of our weather for most of the coming week. The high will be to the south west of Ireland drifting into France as we move through the week. This has several affects on our weather across the island. It will draw in a moist and mild airmass and when this airmass travels north over cooler sea surface temperatures in the north Atlantic close to our shores, it forms an inversion layer or low stratus clouds that plague the windward coastlines with hill fog too. This cloud can be thick enough to produce drizzle at times. Even though we have high pressure close to us, it doesn’t always mean we have good sunny weather around the island, it’s the positioning of the high pressure cell and time of year that determines this. This week coming like last week will deliver the low cloud and mist around the south west, west and northwest coastlines and later parts of the south coast. The best of any brightness will be away from these coasts with the chance of sunshine in the midlands east and north but here too will see cloud but more broken.

The high looks like moving into France and drawing a in a southerly wind with cloud tending to break up more around the west and north west coast but low cloud and mist will be troublesome along southern coastlines at this stage. It will gradually become much milder as we move through the mid week period with good brightness occurring overland. Like last week, some places will have micro climates developing overland to the lee of mountains with temperature spiking higher than the 13 to 15C which is being forecast. Places like south west Dublin, through parts of Offaly and into inland parts of Connaught could well see these higher temperatures due to the Fohn affect. Rainfall amounts will be small for the most part from patchy drizzle until Thursday when a band of rain moves east introducing a cooler conditions with the chance of overnight frosts returning under clear skies. Thee weekend looks unsettled and perhaps becoming windy.

For Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,
Winds will be from a south west direction becoming more southerly as we move through to Wednesday and mostly light generally but fresh at times in the north west. Low cloud mist and drizzle around the coastlines breaking up somewhat later as we move through this period. the best of any bright weather in the eastern half of the country. Max temps of 11 to 13C at first rising to between 13 to 15C by Wednesday with sunshine breaking through in places away from the immediate south coast this time but even here, good brightness will develop at times. No frosts developing overnight.

Thursday
A band of rain will move through but even then, rainfall amounts are small. As the rain clears, it introduces slightly cooler westerlies as low pressure in the north Atlantic will start to dominate. Overall a cloudy day with some sunshine poking through but temps down on recent days at 11 or 12C. A chance of a slight grass frost on Thursday night under clear skies with lows of 1 to 3C across the northern half of the country.

Friday
Not a bad day to begin with with broken cloud and sunshine in places. Winds light at first but becoming strong southwesterly later with rain developing after dark in the west. Feeling a little milder in the light winds.

The following weekend is uncertain with some models keeping it unsettled throughout while other are going for a wet Saturday but dry and bright for Sunday.

Weather Forecast 24/2/12 from IWN

Weather Forecast used with permission from Ireland’s Weather Network

Another mild day with max temps in the eastern side of the country. At Ashford Co.Wicklow, the official temperature reached 17.4C which is exceptional for the time of year. Another Fohn wind to the lee of the Wicklow mountain range added to the extraordinary rise in temperatures today. Generally we expect coastal areas to be cooler but with some brightness but no Fohn wind, the official temperature in Killucan Co.Westmeath reached 13C and is 45 miles inland away from the coast.

Friday will see a drop in temperature but nothing too significant. Feeling fresher as a weak cold front moves down through the country from the north west. This will introduce cooler weather with a drier airmass so good breaks in cloud will develop countrywide. High pressure will move closer the south coast and will maintain a west to northwest airflow. Winds will be light generally but fresh along the north coast. Max temps on Friday of 8 to 11C, coolest over northern areas. Overnight on Friday will see a slight grass frost developing over the northern half of the country in particular. Lowest temps will range 0 to +3C over Ulster and 3 to 5C further south.

Saturday and Sunday now look to be milder with winds settling into a south west direction again. This will introduce low cloud with patchy light rain and drizzle to the west and southwest with brightness further east and north. A weak front may move in across the south during Saturday giving more in the way of cloud here with light rain at times. Highs on Saturday of 10 to 12C in light to moderate south west winds.

Sunday will be breezier with cloud and patchy light rain and drizzle again on windward coasts but a spell of rain may clip the north west during the afternoon. Best of any bright weather is in the east. Temperatures will be a shade up again with values of 11 to 13C. Winds will be fresh to strong from a south west direction, windiest on north western coasts.

Weather Forecast 23/2/12

Summary:
Well as forecast we had a record breaking temp for the Southeast for February today with Tullow in Co. Carlow recording 16.1c just before 2pm and 17.4c was recorded in Ashford.  The weather will turn cooler for Friday night and Saturday before rising again Sunday and staying Mild but unsettled next week.

THURSDAY NIGHT:
A mild night with temps of 8c to 11c but breezy with patches of drizzle and fog at times.

FRIDAY:
Not as mild as Thursday with temps of 8c to 12c, it will start off damp in Leinster and East Munster but elsewhere will be dry and everywhere will be dry in the afternoon with good sunny spells in Northern areas.

FRIDAY NIGHT:
Turning much cooler than recent days with temps getting down to 1c and risk of a light frost.

SATURDAY:
A cool start but temps will rise to 8c to12c by afternoon, warmest in the South but dry everywhere except for some light drizzle in the South.

SUNDAY:
Cloudy with but mainly dry except for some light showers mainly in Northern areas. Sunday night looks quite wet widespread rain.

OUTLOOK:
It will be fairly mild next week with temps of 9c to 13c and mainly dry up to midweek except for some drizzle. Thursday could see some heavy rain especially in West but details as we get closer.

Forecast used with permission from Ireland’s Weather Network

A mild moist airflow is now established over Ireland. Within this airflow comes cloudy and damp weather with sunshine reserved for more eastern areas. A windy day on Wednesday with gales for a time and some rain but still mild and even very mild by Thursday before cooling down on Friday.
Winds will increase early on Wednesday morning and becoming strong overland. Gales around the coasts gusting to 80kmh in the northwest for a time from a south west direction. Winds will die down during the afternoon and veer more to the west. A band of rain heavy in more western and northern areas will sweep through the country but should pass over quick losing intensity as it moves eastwards. However after the rain clears, some patchy light rain and drizzle will remain with overall cloudy skies about the country. Mild still with highs of 11 or 12C.

Wednesday night will be cloudy and breezy with some light patchy rain and drizzle around. Continuing mild throughout the night with temperatures not falling too much with 9 or 10C at their lowest. Winds will settle back into a south west direction but continuing breezy.

Thursday is a much better day with south west winds persisting and still rather breezy. Low cloud will affect the western coastline with some mist and drizzle with hill fog. Further east, a good deal of dry and brighter weather will develop with cloudy periods also. Feeling very mild with highs of 14C in brightness but could reach 15 or 16C in any lengthy sunshine more particular to the lee of high ground in the east and north east. Temperatures of 12 or 13C in the west, coolest along the coast under any mist.

Outlook for Friday is for a band of rain moving south east across the country introducing cooler weather with temps maxing at 10C. A clearer airmass with more sunshine but the risk of a few showers in the northwest. A slight grass frost is possible overnight on Friday but nothing too severe.

Weather Forecast 21/2/12 from IWN

Forecast used with permission from Ireland’s Weather Network

Tuesday may start of dry and bright in places but cloudy overall. This cloud will thicken during the afternoon as a band of rain moves in off the Atlantic. Some heavier bursts are likely in the west and north west but patchy light rain and drizzle elsewhere though persistent. However with the rain, air temperatures will increase and it will become mild, misty and muggy as a warm front moves in over Ireland. Winds will be south westerly and it will be breezy right across the country. Maximum temperatures of 11 to 13C by mid afternoon, the mildest temps will be across the midlands and east of the country. Low cloud and hill fog will affect the coasts but will plague the south, south west and west coasts all day.

Tuesday night will be cloudy and mild, another belt of rain this time much heavier will affect the west and north west with winds strengthening from a south to southwest direction. Temps at their lowest of 9 or 10C.

Wednesday will be a windy and unsettled day but mild despite the rain. Winds will touch gale force or possibly severe gale in the west and north of the country with some severe gusts as a deep area of low pressure sweeps by the north of th country. The heavy rain will clear to light rain and drizzle later in the day but will continue to feel mild with winds settling into the south west again and remaining breezy but much lighter than earlier in the day. Top temps of 12C.

 Thursday will be a very mild day for the time of year. More brightness around as as high pressure nears the country but stays to the south west. Unfortunately not everywhere will see brightness, the south west and west coasts will likely to remain mostly cloudy with light drizzle and low cloud and mist. Further to the midlands east and north, more in the way of bright spells but not a good deal of sunshine either. The best chance of any sunny spells will be to the lee of hills in the east and north east. Top temps of 12 to 14C but may reach 15C in any sunshine, so winter will finish off more or less how it has gone so far and that is mild.

Weather Forecast 20/2/12

MONDAY:
The cold weather is quickly been replaced by mild weather with temps rising to 10c in most places by midday, there will also be rain in the Northern half of the country but elsewhere should escape with cloud and just some light drizzle. Monday night will be mild with temps of 5c to 8c with rain persisting in northern areas.

TUESDAY:
A mild day with temps of 10c to 13c, a dry start to the day but rain will arrive in the West by midday and cross the country through the evening.

WEDNESDAY:
A wet day with heavy rain arriving in the West and becoming widespread it will be even milder with temps of 10c to 14c.

THURSDAY:
A great day with sunny spells in many places and temps up to an amazing 16c!

FRIDAY:
A cloudy damp day but still pretty mild with temps of 10c to 13c.

WEEKEND:
Currently looks a little cooler Saturday but mainly dry with Sunday milder but a risk of rain.

Warmest temps for February:

The warmest temperature ever recorded in Ireland in February was 18.1c in 1891 on the 23rd at the Phoenix Park Dublin. The second highest was 16.8c on the 28th in 1960 at Valentia Kerry.

The warmest temperature recorded at the Kilkenny station (closed 2008) was 15.9c on the 13th in 2008, this station was replaced by Oak Park Carlow and this record could be matched on Thursday.

The record for Birr which closed in 2009 was 15.6c on the 29th in 1920, this station was replaced by Gurteen Co. Tipperary and this record could certainly also be matched Thursday.

Image: winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Weather Forecast 18/2/12

Weather Advisory Saturday Night/Sunday:
Snow showers in the North will make driving conditions dangerous and there will also be ICY patches elsewhere with temps down to -2c and a widespread Frost

SATURDAY NIGHT:
Showers will continue in the North tonight with many of those showers falling as Snow even at lower levels away from the coast. Showers of sleet which are falling as far South as the Midlands will mainly die out before midnight. Temps will drop down to as low as -2c with a widespread Frost causing ICY conditions where showers have fallen earlier.

SUNDAY:
A cold start with ICY stretches as Frost is slow to clear but it will be a mainly dry day with good sunny spells and temps will climb to 5c to 9c by midday warmest in the South. Temps will drop again after sunset with frost setting in, 0c to 3c in the East but staying Milder in the West as warmer air starts to arrive.

MONDAY:
Milder but wet weather will arrive in the West and North by mid morning and spread across the country during the day with temps of 6c to 10c with a strong Southwest wind. Monday night will be a mild damp night with temps of 6c to 10c

TUESDAY:
Another wet day but even milder with temps getting up to 13c, the rain will be heaviest in the West and North and the Southeast may remain dry.

WEDNESDAY:
Another mild day with temps getting up to 14c but it also looks quite wet widespread rain.

OUTLOOK:
It looks to remain mild with day time temps of 10c to 14c and mild nights of 6c to 9c, Thursday and Friday look mainly dry at the moment until a band of rain arrives Friday evening. Saturday looks showery with Sunday a dry day, but that’s a little far out yet so more details during the week.

Weather Forecast 16/2/12

WEATHER ADVISORY:
A risk of Snow on Saturday and Saturday night in Northern areas but perhaps making it as far south as North Leinster, higher ground in the North could see accumulations of Snow. Frost on Saturday night and Sunday morning with ICY roads.

THURSDAY:
A mild cloudy day with some very scattered showers, the Southeast may remain dry for the day, a little breezy with temps of 8c to 12c. Some light showers again tonight mainly in Western areas, temps will be 6c to 9c except for Northern areas where it will be cooler under some clear skies.

FRIDAY:
Mild with temps of 8c to 11c with some light drizzle and mist in many areas and quite breezy in strong SW winds.

FRIDAY NIGHT:
Turning quite wet after sunset as rain arrives into the North and pushes down across the country with up to 10mm to 15mm in places, temps will drop sharply as the rain clears South.

SATURDAY:
The band of rain from Friday night will clear the South early Saturday morning with temps around 2c to 5c at Sunrise but slowly rising to 3c to 6c. Another band of rain will arrive in the North early Saturday morning and this will fall as Snow, especially on higher ground but also at lower levels for a time also. The showers will make it as far as North Leinster but will more likely be sleet at lower levels although some Snow can’t be ruled out but amounts look small at this stage.

SATURDAY NIGHT:
A very cold night everywhere with temps getting down to -3c with widespread Frost and ICY patches, there is also a risk of more Snow showers in the Northwest but these look to be confined to the Northwest at this stage.

SUNDAY:
Very cold with widespread ICY patches slow to clear, it looks mainly dry though with some light Wintry showers confined to the North.

SUNDAY NIGHT:
A cold night with some early frost in most areas, but a band of Rain will approach from the West and bring a rise in Temps by late Sunday night early Monday.

MONDAY:
Looks like a rather Wet and Windy day with temps rising to 5c to 11c

OUTLOOK:
Remaining Wet and Windy on Tuesday and looks like remaining rather unsettled next week but much milder with temps reaching 14c in Southern areas by mid week.

Snow Risk Chart fro Saturday morning:

Image from netweather.tv