The Climate of
Ireland
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Wicklow harbour
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Climate Map
Climate map of the Republic of Ireland
What is the climate of Ireland like?
The Republic of Ireland is located on an island in the eastern part of the North Atlantic. Located on the European continental shelf, it is at the westernmost edge of Europe, to the west of the United Kingdom. The northeast corner of the island is occupied by Northern Ireland.
The strongest factor determining Ireland's climate is the Atlantic Ocean. The prevailing westerly winds blowing across the vast expanse of water are tempered by its comparatively warm surface, so that Ireland's mean winter temperature is 10 to 15°C (20–30°F) higher than many places at the same latitude in America or Eastern Europe. This influence is also very pronounced in summer, with Ireland's average summer temperature being 3 to 5°C (5–10°F) lower than similar places.
Ireland is even more influenced by the warm waters of the North Atlantic than England and as a result its climate is slightly wetter year-round, milder in winter and cooler and cloudier in summer. The climate of the west coast of Ireland is milder than that of the west coast of England in the same latitude. The average spring temperature of Galway is 10°C (50°F), higher than Dublin or London. This mild, rainy climate is particularly favorable for the growth of grass and moss, which is why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle.
The driest part of the country is the east (see example Dublin). The average annual temperature is 10°C (50°F) and average monthly temperatures range from a balmy 5°C (41°F) in January to 16°C (61°F) in July. The average temperature of any month varies little from these figures. Average annual rainfall is less than 760 millimeters (30 inches) in locations near Dublin. The east and interior have slightly warmer summers and cooler winters.
| Climate data for Dublin (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) | 8.3 (46.9) | 10.2 (50.4) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.8 (58.6) | 17.6 (63.7) | 19.5 (67.1) | 19.2 (66.6) | 17.0 (62.6) | 13.6 (56.5) | 10.3 (50.5) | 8.3 (46.9) | 13.3 (55.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 5.3 (41.5) | 6.8 (44.2) | 8.3 (46.9) | 10.9 (51.6) | 13.6 (56.5) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.3 (59.5) | 13.4 (56.1) | 10.5 (50.9) | 7.4 (45.3) | 5.6 (42.1) | 9.8 (49.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 2.3 (36.1) | 3.4 (38.1) | 4.6 (40.3) | 6.9 (44.4) | 9.6 (49.3) | 11.7 (53.1) | 11.5 (52.7) | 9.8 (49.6) | 7.3 (45.1) | 4.5 (40.1) | 2.8 (37.0) | 6.4 (43.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 62.6 (2.46) | 48.8 (1.92) | 52.7 (2.07) | 54.1 (2.13) | 59.5 (2.34) | 66.7 (2.63) | 56.2 (2.21) | 73.3 (2.89) | 59.5 (2.34) | 79.0 (3.11) | 72.9 (2.87) | 72.7 (2.86) | 758.0 (29.84) |
| Source: Met Éireann | |||||||||||||
The south has similar temperatures to the east (see the example of Cork) but is rather wetter.
| Climate data for Cork (1981−2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) | 8.3 (46.9) | 9.9 (49.8) | 11.8 (53.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 17.0 (62.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 18.5 (65.3) | 16.5 (61.7) | 13.2 (55.8) | 10.3 (50.5) | 8.5 (47.3) | 12.9 (55.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.6 (42.1) | 5.7 (42.3) | 6.9 (44.4) | 8.4 (47.1) | 10.9 (51.6) | 13.5 (56.3) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.2 (59.4) | 13.3 (55.9) | 10.5 (50.9) | 7.8 (46.0) | 6.1 (43.0) | 9.9 (49.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) | 3.1 (37.6) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.9 (40.8) | 7.4 (45.3) | 10.0 (50.0) | 11.8 (53.2) | 11.8 (53.2) | 10.2 (50.4) | 7.7 (45.9) | 5.2 (41.4) | 3.7 (38.7) | 6.9 (44.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 131.4 (5.17) | 97.8 (3.85) | 97.6 (3.84) | 76.5 (3.01) | 82.3 (3.24) | 80.9 (3.19) | 78.8 (3.10) | 96.8 (3.81) | 94.6 (3.72) | 138.2 (5.44) | 120.0 (4.72) | 133.1 (5.24) | 1,227.9 (48.34) |
| Source: Met Éireann | |||||||||||||
The west coast is more influenced by the Atlantic and is both wetter and cloudier with even milder winters (see Galway). However, the differences in weather and climate are relatively small across the country. Snow is very rare on the west and south coasts, but occurs a few days a year in the east and on the hills. Although there are numerous mountain ranges in Ireland, few are higher than 800 meters (2,600 feet) and even at these heights the snow does not linger for long. In some mountainous regions, annual precipitation can reach more than 2,500 millimeters (100 inches).
| Climate data for Galway (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | 10.8 (51.4) | 13.0 (55.4) | 15.8 (60.4) | 17.8 (64.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 19.1 (66.4) | 17.3 (63.1) | 14.1 (57.4) | 11.0 (51.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 13.8 (56.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.0 (42.8) | 6.2 (43.2) | 7.8 (46.0) | 9.3 (48.7) | 11.9 (53.4) | 14.2 (57.6) | 16.1 (61.0) | 15.8 (60.4) | 13.9 (57.0) | 11.0 (51.8) | 8.1 (46.6) | 6.3 (43.3) | 10.6 (51.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) | 3.8 (38.8) | 4.9 (40.8) | 5.8 (42.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.6 (51.1) | 12.9 (55.2) | 12.5 (54.5) | 10.4 (50.7) | 7.9 (46.2) | 5.1 (41.2) | 3.6 (38.5) | 7.3 (45.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 114.1 (4.49) | 94.4 (3.72) | 92.0 (3.62) | 60.5 (2.38) | 68.5 (2.70) | 80.6 (3.17) | 69.3 (2.73) | 108.9 (4.29) | 93.2 (3.67) | 130.2 (5.13) | 123.8 (4.87) | 120.9 (4.76) | 1,156.2 (45.52) |
| Source: Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut | |||||||||||||
In the country's wetter west, it rains frequently, but on many days it is very light and in the form of drizzle. Here moisture-laden winds blow in from the sea and haze and mist cling to the hillsides. The sunniest parts of the country are the east and south coasts, with an average of two hours of sunshine per day in winter to six in midsummer. In most parts of Ireland, spring is the driest time of the year. Except in the far east around Dublin, autumn and winter are the wettest seasons.
Prolonged frosts and snows are rare, and thunderstorms are neither frequent nor violent. The prevalent winds are from the west and south, the southeast wind predominating in the early part of the year. Occasional severe weather in winter takes two forms: gales that particularly hit the West; and rare spells of frost and snow when cold east or north winds bring severe weather from the European mainland.
When is the best time to visit Ireland?
Ireland has rainy, mild winters, and warm summers influenced by the Gulf Stream. The best time to visit is April to September.
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Ireland
In summary:
Ireland's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean gives it a mild maritime climate. Average temperatures range from 4°C to 7°C (39°F to 45°F) in January, and from 14°C to 16°C (57°F to 61°F) in July. Ireland’s weather is humid and highly changeable.
Average annual rainfall ranges from roughly 750 mm (30 in) in the eastern part of the country to over 2500 mm (100 in) in the western highlands.