Recent January’s in Ireland were mild and wet.
- 2016 was mostly dominated by the North Atlantic jet stream, with Storm Gertrude a notable feature. Long Term Averages (LTA) for temperature were normal and above average for rainfall.
- 2017 was mild and dry. All rainfall totals were below their LTA and above their LTA for temperatures.
- 2018 was wetter than normal with near or slightly above LTA for temperatures and rainfall. Fog was a significant feature, particularly in the West and South.
- 2019 was mild and dry with a cold finish. Rainfall LTA were below everywhere and above average for temperatures.
- 2020 was mild and dry overall. Storm Brendan, brought storm force winds including thunderstorms in the West and the East. Rainfall LTA were below average in most places and temperatures were above average everywhere.
- 2021 was cold and wet. Rainfall was above average in most places and temperatures were below average everywhere.
January 2022
Mild and very dry
January was a very dry month overall with above average temperatures. The first third of the month saw Atlantic low-pressure systems to the west and north in charge with several frontal systems crossing the country. The final two thirds of the month saw the jet stream move north, allowing high pressure to build from the south, bringing very dry conditions. The month began very mild with low-pressure to the west of Ireland bringing strong winds and bands of rain or showers, sometimes thundery, across country from the southwest. A few relatively dry days with cold northerly winds followed for the middle of the first week before low-pressure to the northwest steered several active weather fronts, interspersed with heavy showers, across the country from the west between the 6th and 8th. A steady rise in pressure from the south followed. The rest of the month was very dry with high pressure in control. The high pressure systems, centred mostly to the south and southeast of Ireland, brought varying amounts of sunshine, highest in the South and East. However, some weak weather fronts kept it cloudy at times, with some light rain and drizzle, especially in the Northwest. Low-pressure encroached from the north towards the end of the month with storm Corrie, named by the Met Office (UK), bringing windy conditions as it passed to the north of Ireland on the 30th.
Rainfall: Very dry everywhere
All monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their Long-Term Average (LTA). Percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 22% (monthly rainfall total of 22.7 mm) at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford to 78% (monthly rainfall total of 93.1 mm) at Malin Head, Co Donegal. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 14.6 mm (23% of its LTA) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 98.8 mm (59% of its LTA) at Newport, Co Mayo. The highest daily rainfall total was 22.6 mm at Malin Head, Co Donegal on Monday 3rd. The number of rain days ranged from 10 days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 25 days at Belmullet, Co Mayo. The number of wet days1 ranged from 4 days at both Phoenix Park, Co Dublin and Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 17 days at Newport, Co Mayo. The number of very wet days3 ranged from zero days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 3 days at a few stations. Nine stations had dry spells between Saturday 8th and Sunday 30th. These were Finner, Co Donegal (lasting 15 days), Shan-non Airport, Co Clare, Dunsany, Co Meath, Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford (lasting 16 days), Moore Park, Co Cork (lasting 17 days), Dublin Airport, Co Dublin (lasting 18 days), Oak Park, Co Carlow (lasting 20 days), Phoenix Park, Co Dublin and Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin (lasting 23 days). Sherkin Island, Co Cork had its driest January on record with 45.2 mm (34% of its LTA) (record length 49 years). Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford and Cork Airport, Co Cork had their driest January since 1964. Moore Park, Co Cork had its driest January since 1992. Four stations had their driest January since 1997. These were Dublin Airport, Co Dublin, Oak Park, Co Carlow, Belmullet, Co Mayo and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.
Temperature: Above average everywhere
All mean air temperatures across the country were above their Long-Term Average (LTA) for the month. This is the fifth consecutive month where all stations had above average monthly mean temperatures. Deviations from monthly mean air temperature ranged from 0.1 °C (5.4 °C mean temperature) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 1.9°C (7.0 °C mean temperature) at Finner, Co Donegal. Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 5.1 °C (0.5 °C above their LTA) at both Mullingar, Co Westmeath and Dunsany, Co Meath to 8.2 °C at both Sherkin Island, Co Cork and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry (0.6 °C , 0.9 °C above their LTA respectively) The month’s lowest temperatures were recorded on Monday 17th with the lowest air minimum reported at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon with a temperature of -4.8 °C and the lowest grass minimum reported at Oak Park, Co Carlow with -9.2 °C. The highest maximum temperature was reported on New Year’s Day, Saturday 1st at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin with a temperature of 15.0 °C. All stations reported ground frost during the month. The number of days with ground frost ranged from 3 days at both Malin Head, Co Donegal and Belmullet, Co Mayo to 24 days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin. More than half of stations reported air frost. The number of days with air frost ranged from zero days at a few stations to 10 days at Dunsany, Co Meath. Ten stations had their highest maximum temperature for January on record on New Year’s Day, Saturday 1st (record length ranging from between 11 and 72 years).
Sunshine: Sunny in the South and East, dull in the Northwest
All available sunshine totals were above their Long-Term Average (LTA). Percentage of monthly sunshine values ranged from 112% (monthly sunshine total of 57.1 hours) at Shannon Airport, Co Clare to 126% (monthly sunshine total of 68.0 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin. Monthly sunshine totals ranged from 29.6 hours (No LTA comparison*) at Belmullet, Co Mayo to 86.7 hours (No LTA comparison*) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin. The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this month was 7.4 hours at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin on Monday 17th. The number of dull days ranged from 5 days at Dublin Airport to 15 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.
Wind: Storm force winds reported on New Year’s Day
Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 4.8 knots (8.9 km/h) at Moore Park, Co Cork to 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h) at Malin Head, Co Donegal. Gales were reported on 11 days during the month with strong gales reported on the 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th and 29th. Storm force winds were reported on New Year’s Day, Saturday 1st at Belmullet, Co Mayo. The number of days with gales ranged from zero days at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 7 days at both Mace Head, Co Galway and Malin Head, Co Donegal. The number of days with up to strong gales ranged from zero days at most stations to 4 days at Mace Head, Co Galway. The number of days with storm force winds was 1 day at Belmullet, Co Mayo. Both the month’s highest gust and 10-minute mean wind speed was reported at Belmullet, Co Mayo on Saturday 1st. The highest gust was 65 knots (120 km/h) while the month’s highest 10-minute mean wind speed was 50 knots (93 km/h).
Extreme values at synoptic stations
The full report is available here
Rainfall % of 1981 – 2021 Monthly Average for January 2022 (Provisional)
Total Monthly Rainfall (mm) for January 2022 (Provisional)