Monthly Weather Bulletin

Transcription

1 Monthly Weather Bulletin No. 178 FEBRUARY 001 INSIDE Wind & Elements... 4 Marine & Pressur essure e... Agmet /Lab... 6 Diary... 8 Rainfall all... Temperature e... 1 Sunshine Another sunny month everywhere World Weather.. 1 The WeaW eather of Winter Coldest Winter for years in places Produced by Met Éireann, Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Annual subscription 48 For more informationtel: fax: climat.enquiries@met.ie Notes on the tables and map showing location of stations appear in each January issue A winter scene from Caherconree in the Sliabh Mish range in County Kerry. (picture courtesy Tony O Callaghan) SUNNY AND MOSTLY DRY; COLD SPELL AT END OF MONTH Summary: The early part of February was unsettled, with wet and at times windy weather, but it was also mild. High pressure around mid-month produced dry and fairly calm conditions but frost was widespread under clear skies. Very cold northerly winds over the country during the final week brought some heavy snowfalls in places, leading to disruption of both power supplies and transport. Overall the mild weather early in the month was balanced by the later cold and at times frosty weather, so that mean temperatures for the month were close to normal everywhere. Similarly, after wet weather early on, the second half of the month was fairly dry and rainfall totals were near normal in many places, but most midland and western counties received less than their February normals. Sunshine totals were above normal and it was the sunniest February for at least years. There were spells of very sunny weather around the middle of the month and again during the final week; Kilkenny, Clones and Cork Airport measured their highest ever daily sunshine values for February at the end of the month.

2 WEATHER Below Snow was heavy in places on the 6th and 7th, especially in the north and east (see map on page 3). Pictured here is the snow-covered St Stephen s Green in Dublin on the 7th. (picture Irish Times) 1st to 11th: Unsettled, with a succession of Atlantic weather systems bringing cloudy, wet weather. Rain fell on almost every day in the period, but it was also generally mild with little frost. An exception was a brief spell of colder weather after a frontal trough with heavy rain cleared southwards on the 7th to give a dry, cold day on the 8th. Southwesterly winds associated with deep Atlantic depressions reached gale force on both the 6th and th. 1th to 1st: Ireland was under the influence of a large anticyclone, or area of high pressure, giving mainly dry, settled conditions with light winds. Clear weather at first during this spell gave very sunny days but frost became widespread and severe in places, with some freezing fog inland. Later in the period, weak fronts brought increased cloud with widespread fog and drizzle, but rainfall amounts were small. nd to 8th: High pressure moved away westwards as a cold front introduced a northerly airstream over Ireland. The weather became progressively colder as scattered showers turned increasingly wintry. A depression to the north of the country on the 6th moved into the Irish Sea on the 7th, bringing a spell of snow in the northern half of the country and along the east coast; gale force northerly winds brought blizzard conditions in places. Mean windspeeds for the month were below normal everywhere and were the lowest for February for up to 36 years at Valentia Observatory. They varied between 7 and 11 knots (8 and 13m.p.h.) generally, up to 17 knots (0m.p.h.) at Malin Head. The strongest winds at most stations were recorded on the 6th, with the highest gust, 64 knots (74m.p.h.), measured at Cork Airport on this day, the strongest February gust at the station since Snow fell in the period 4th to 8th, on the 4th and particularly between the 6th and 7th, when it was widespread and heavy in places (see page 3). Hail showers were observed in the periods 3rd to 8th and 3rd to 8th, with thunder on the 6th, 6th and 8th. Fog became widespread around the middle of the month, especially in the period 19th to 1st.

3 1st - 11th: Atlantic weather systems were the main influence, bringing mild and wet weather with gales at times WEATHER Radar rainfall chart for 0900UTC on th 3 Synoptic chart for 0UTC on th Tr mm/hour 1th - 1st: High pressure to the east or south of Ireland gave dry, fairly calm weather with variable cloud. Frost was severe at times. 0 Visible satellite image at 0UTC on 13th Snow Depths (cm) at 0900UTC on 7th 6th - 8th: Bitterly cold northerly winds brought falls of snow, heaviest in the north and east; 7cm of level snow was measured in the Mourne Mountains on the 7th. (Northern Ireland data kindly supplied by Belfast Weather Office) Synoptic chart for 1800UTC 6th Visible satellite image at 0UTC on 6th

4 4 WIND & ELEMENTS County / Station WIND (KNOTS) ELEMENTS Mean Max. -min. mean Max. Gust Days with Hours with No. of Days with speed dir. speed date/hour dir. speed date/time gales gale gusts gale gusts Snow Snow Lying Hail Thunder Fog CO. CLARE SHANNON AIRPORT / / CO. CORK CORK AIRPORT / / CO. DONEGAL MALIN HEAD / / /08 CO. DUBLIN CASEMENT AERODROME / / DUBLIN AIRPORT /17 1 6/ CO. KERRY VALENTIA OBSERVATORY /08 9 6/ CO. KILKENNY KILKENNY / / CO. MAYO BELMULLET / / /09 CONNAUGHT AIRPORT / / CO. MONAGHAN CLONES / / CO. OFFALY BIRR / / CO. WESTMEATH MULLINGAR II / / CO. WEXFORD ROSSLARE / / Valentia Observatory Dublin Airport Calm: 1.% N Calm: 0.1% N NW NE NW NE W E W E SW SE SW SE S % S FREQUENCY OF WIND DIRECTION

5 MARINE & PRESSURE SEA TEMPERATURES As usual during February, sea temperatures fell by between one and two degrees during the month. They ranged from close to 8 C in the northeast to over C off the southwest coast around mid-month; while close to normal in the north, they were a little higher than normal in the south. At Malin Head the mean sea temperature for the month of 6.8 C was almost exactly normal. Degrees from North Wave Direction Significant Wave Height N W W 9 8 Height (m) Period Period (seconds) DATE 0 8 Wave conditions at. N, 1 W based on WAM model W 9 Sea Temperatures ( C) around mid-month W MEAN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE Mean sea level pressure values for the month were above normal everywhere, by around 4hPa generally. They ranged from just under 16hPa in the north to over 17hPa in the south. As the graph below shows, high pressure dominated the middle part of the month, but there were some very low values recorded during the first week. Belmullet measured the lowest pressure of the month, 98.9hPa on the 6th, the lowest February value at the station since In contrast, the highest pressure of the month, 44.9hPa at Dublin Airport on the 17th, was the highest February value there since 196. L H 4 The above map is based on monthly means of 0 UTC values 70 N 60 N 0 N 40 N L Valentia Observatory Malin Head Mean daily M.S.L. pressure (hpa)

6 6 AGMET / LABORATORY -/- Mean cm Soil Temperatures ( C) at 0900UTC (difference from normals in brackets) 4.7 (0.0) -3/-3-6/6 -/ -6/3-6/4-4/- 6.0 (+0.6) -3/1 -/1-4/6 -/- 4.7 (+0.3). 4.0 (+0.4) 4.6 (+0.3) 3.9 (+0.1) 3.3 (-0.1) 3. (+0.4) 3.8 (+0.) 3.4 (-0.1) 4.9 (+0.3) Soil Moisture Deficits (mm) th of month / End of month (0 represents field capacity, - saturation) Soil Temperatures at 0900UTC County/ Station C cm 0cm 30cm CO. CLARE SHANNON AIRPORT CARRON 4.4. CO. CORK FERMOY (MOORE PARK) CORK AIRPORT SHERKIN ISLAND BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) CO. DONEGAL MALIN HEAD CO. DUBLIN DUBLIN AIRPORT CASEMENT AERODROME CO. KERRY VALENTIA OBSERVATORY CO. KILKENNY KILKENNY CO. LEITRIM BALLINAMORE CO. LIMERICK MOUNT RUSSELL CO. LOUTH ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE) CO. MAYO BELMULLET STRAIDE 3. CONNAUGHT AIRPORT CO. MEATH WARRENSTOWN CO. MONAGHAN CLONES CO. OFFALY BIRR CO. TIPPERARY FETHARD (PARSONSHILL) CO. WATERFORD DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) CO. WESTMEATH MULLINGAR II CO. WEXFORD JOHNSTOWN CASTLE ROSSLARE CLONROCHE JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK electrical conductivity (μs/cm) NO -N m m m SO -S n n n SO 4 -S l l l (μgs/m 3 ) PRECIPITATION ph and electrical conductivity are not available on dry days (<0.3mm) AIR Chemical Analysis of Precipitation and Air Samples at Valentia Observatory ph 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.6 at 0 C owing to carbon dioxide in the air dissolving to form carbonic acid. Any value below ph.6 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.

7 AGMET 7 -DAY VALUES FOR SELECTED AGROMETEOROLOGICAL STATIONS Station period amount RAINFALL TEMPERATURE SUNSHINE % 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 >.0 C lowest "grass-min." date days with ground frost mean cm at 0900h mean 30cm at 0900h total no. of hours % of average mean wind speed (m/s) m a.g.l. P.E. (Penman) (mm) Co. Cork Fermoy end month Co. Donegal Letterkenny end month Co. Kerry Ardfert end month Co. Leitrim Ballinamore end month Co. Louth Ardee end month Co. Waterford Dungarvan end month Co. Wexford Johnstown Castle end month MEASURED POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (P.E.) AND SOIL MOISTURE County/ P.E. (mm) Soil Moisture (mm) Station Period Amount Deficit Accumulated Surplus Deficit Co. Dublin 1- Kinsealy end month Co. Kerry 1- Valentia Obs end month Co. Leitrim 1- Ballinamore end month Co. Wexford 1- Johnstown Castle end month SEE BACK PAGE OF JANUARY ISSUE FOR NOTES ON THE DATA P.E. GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION (MJ/sq. m.) (Penman) County/ -day totals total for total for Station end month month(mm) Co.Donegal Malin Head Co.Dublin Dublin Airport Co Kerry Valentia Obs. Co.Kilkenny Kilkenny Co.Mayo Belmullet Co.Monaghan Clones Co.Offaly Birr

8 8 DIARY Thursday 1st: Weak fronts crossed the country during the day giving outbreaks of rain or drizzle in all areas, followed later by a weak ridge. Relatively mild throughout but some ground frost developed in midland areas late in the day. Light to moderate south to southeast winds, veering west to southwest with the clearance. Rainfall: 1 to 4mm generally Temperature: max: 9 C to 1 C, min. 4 C to 6 C; ground temperatures near or below zero inland Sunshine: less than 1 hour generally; over hours near west and southwest coasts Thursday 8th: Some rain in southern counties at first, gradually moving away southwards. Elsewhere clear periods with a sharp frost. Winds light to moderate north to northwesterly. A sunny day everywhere except in the southeast. Frost setting in early after dark and becoming sharp to severe before midnight. Cold throughout. Rainfall: nil to mm Temperature: max. 4 C to 7 C, min. -3 C to C inland; ground temperatures - C to -9 C inland Sunshine: to 8 hours generally, 1 to 4 hours in south and southeast Friday nd: Ireland lay in a southwest to westerly airflow as a depression passed to the north of Ireland. Mist or fog patches and some light rain or drizzle at first, with heavier rain in the west by mid-afternoon, spreading to eastern areas by end of day. Slight frost in the mid-west until the onset of rain. Rainfall: 3 to 6mm generally; over mm near north and northwest coasts Temperature: max. 8 C to C, min. 4 C to 6 C; ground temperatures down to -3 C in Kilkenny Sunshine: nil to 1 hour Saturday 3rd: Complex low to the northeast, with embedded fronts lying along the east coast, maintaining a west to northwest airflow over Ireland. Further fronts lying to the southwest of Ireland affected the country later in the day. Clear spells in the northern half with just occasional showers along the north coast. Mild everywhere. Rainfall: trace to 1mm generally, mm to mm in the southwest Temperature: max. 8 C to C, min. 0 C to C; ground temperatures down to -6 C in Clones Sunshine: nil to 1 hour in south, 3 to hours elsewhere Sunday 4th: A depression of 986hPa off the southwest coast moved slowly east-northeastwards. Associated frontal troughs over Ireland were slowmoving. The day started with rain over the southern half of the country, occasionally heavy. This gradually spread northeastwards to all areas, clearing later to showers and also some mist and fog patches. Winds were strong and gusty at first, particularly in the north, slackening later. Rainfall: 4 to 1mm, heaviest in south and southeast Temperature: max. 8 C to C in southwestern half, C to 6 C elsewhere, min. 0 C to C; slight ground frost in north Sunshine: nil to 1 hour generally Monday th: A frontal trough moved slowly northwards over the country during the day while a more vigorous depression approached quickly from the southwest with its associated front reaching the south coast late in the day. Some scattered outbreaks of light rain overnight, turning heavier and more widespread during the morning and falling as sleet or snow in parts of Connacht and Ulster. After a brief clearance to bright spells and scattered showers, further rain arrived in the southwest during the evening and moved quickly northeastwards. Cold in the northern half of country, milder in the south. Winds generally light variable but stronger in the extreme north. Rainfall: 6 to 9mm generally, 11mm in Cork Temperature: max. 8 C to 11 C generally but C to C in north and northwest, min. 0 C to 6 C; ground temperatures near zero Sunshine: trace to 3 hours generally Tuesday 6th: A vigorous storm depression off the southwest coast tracked northwards over the country, finally clearing the north coast by evening. Its associated fronts gave heavy rain, clearing to showers, some heavy and thundery. Very strong winds, mainly from a south to southwest direction, reaching storm force at times, gusting over 60 knots. Showers became less frequent by late evening as winds eased. Temperatures near normal. Rainfall: mm to 7mm in east and midlands, 13mm to 3mm elsewhere Temperature: max. 8 C to C, min. 4 C to 7 C; ground temperatures 1 C to 6 C Sunshine: 0 to 4 hours, highest in the east Wednesday 7th: The depression moved towards Scotland leaving Ireland in a slack northerly airflow. Mist or fog at first. Rain or showers persistent and heavy at first, particularly in the south, becoming scattered later. Cold throughout with sharp to severe frost setting in by late evening. Rainfall: nil to mm generally, 13 to mm near south and southeast coast Temperature: max. 6 C to 9 C, min. -1 C to C; ground temperatures down to -6 C in Clones Sunshine: nil to 1 hour in south and east, 3 to 6 hours elsewhere Friday 9th: A ridge of high pressure moved east across the country during the first half of the day as an occluded front approached, reaching the west coast during the evening. Very cold overnight with widespread air and ground frost, with some freezing fog patches around dawn in inland areas. Cold and dry everywhere during daylight hours with sunny spells in most areas. Rain spread quickly eastwards after dark affecting all areas by end of day, persistent and at times heavy in southern coastal counties. Winds light variable to begin became fresh and gusty southerly during the evening. Rainfall: 1 to 3mm generally, up to 1mm in south Temperature: max. 6 C to C, min. -4 C to 0 C; ground temperatures down to -11 C in Kilkenny Sunshine: 4 to 7 hours generally, 1 hour at Valentia Observatory Saturday th: Frontal troughs crossed Ireland in a strong south to southwest airflow. Widespread rain cleared early but returned around daybreak and remained until mid-afternoon, heavy in places, with some thundery activity off the west coast. Mostly dry for the remainder of the day. Very windy from a south to southwest direction. Rainfall: 4 to 8mm in most places, 13mm at Valentia Temperature: max. 11 C to 13 C, min. C to C, warmest in southwest; ground temperatures between C and C in most places with no frost Sunshine: nil generally, 1 or hours in the west and northwest Sunday 11th: A strong southwesterly airflow persisted while a frontal trough with waves, lying over the south of the country, intensified and moved slowly northwards. Apart from the northwest there was widespread rain to begin, dying out for a time and returning to some places later in the day. Winds were fresh and gusty at first, becoming light. Rainfall: to 16mm in southern half, 0 to mm elsewhere Temperature: max. C to 1 C, min. C to 7 C; ground temperatures 3 C to 6 C Sunshine: nil or trace, hours at Malin Head Monday 1th: A frontal wave near the south coast moved away eastwards during the morning and a northwest airflow developed as a ridge built from the west. The day started with some heavy rain over the southern half of the country; cloudy elsewhere with light southwesterly winds and some light showers in the northwest. A sunny afternoon everywhere with frost developing quickly after dark, sharp in all but northern areas. Rainfall: nil or trace generally, 7 to 11mm in south and southeast Temperature: max. 9 C to 11 C, min. -1 C to 4 C; ground temperatures down to -6 C inland Sunshine: 3 to 8 hours Tuesday 13th: A high pressure area of 39hPa to the southeast moved very slowly eastwards and dominated the weather. Clear and very cold overnight with widespread ground frost and some fog patches also, clearing to give a dry sunny day almost everywhere. Frost setting in quickly later. Moderate and gusty northwesterly winds near northern coasts but elsewhere light and variable. Rainfall: nil or trace Temperature: max. 8 C to 11 C, min. -3 C to 4 C; ground temperatures down to -9 C in Kilkenny and Dublin Sunshine: 4 to 9 hours Wednesday 14th: The anticyclone over England continued to drift eastwards as a cold front in the Atlantic edged closer to Ireland. A clear, very cold night with sharp to severe frost in most places. Mist or fog lingered until late morning in the midlands. The day was again dry with good sunny spells, becoming cloudier in the west with some drizzle by end of day. Winds light southerly or variable, freshening in the northwest later. Rainfall: nil or trace Temperature: max. 8 C to 1 C, min. -4 C to C inland, up to 7 C coastal; ground temperatures down to -11 C in Dublin Sunshine: hours near west and southwest coasts, 6 to 9 hours generally

9 Thursday 1th: A weak cold front over the southeast of Ireland cleared southeastwards as an anticyclone built across the area from the west. A mostly clear, cool night in the east, while outbreaks of rain and drizzle affected western areas. The front brought only increased cloud with some light drizzle to midland and eastern areas, but some heavier rain as it approached the south coast. Skies cleared from the west by the end of the day. Rainfall: nil to 4mm Temperature: max. 8 C to C, min. -1 C to 4 C; ground temperatures down to -6 C inland Sunshine: nil to 1 hour generally, 4 to 6 hours near Atlantic coasts Friday 16th: An anticyclone of 36hPa centred over Ireland continued to intensify and move slowly eastwards. Dry, clear and very cold overnight with widespread air and ground frost. Mist and freezing fog patches in many areas also, clearing only slowly in the midlands. Most places had a clear, sunny day and afternoon temperatures were well up to normal but it was cold where the fog persisted. Frost set in quickly after dark. Winds mostly light and variable. Rainfall: nil or trace Temperature: max. 7 C to C, min. - C to 1 C; ground temperatures down to - C in Dublin Sunshine: 1 to hours, 8 hours near east and southeast coast Saturday 17th: The anticyclone of 4hPa centred over Wales moved very slowly eastwards. After a very cold night it was another bright sunny day in most places, but fog again lingered in some inland areas. Cloudier in the south and southwest. Winds again light and variable or southerly in direction. Rainfall: nil or trace Temperature: max. 7 C to C, min. - C to - C inland, 0 C to 6 C coastal; ground temperatures down to -11 C in Dublin Sunshine: nil to 4 hours in parts of south, 6 to 9 hours generally Sunday 18th: The intense anticyclone persisted to the east of Ireland, maintaining a light southerly airflow. Some sharp to severe frost during the night and again after dark with patches of freezing fog in places. Generally dry, but with some light rain or drizzle near the north and northwest coasts towards late evening. Daytime temperatures near normal. Rainfall: nil to 1mm Temperature: max. 7 C to 9 C, min. -3 C to 0 C inland, up to 7 C coastal; ground temperatures down to -9 C in Dublin Sunshine: 3 to 6 hours generally, 8 hours in Dublin Monday 19th: Anticyclone persisted to the south while weak frontal troughs moved south across the country during the period. Extensive frost, sharp to severe in many areas during the night. Mist and fog persistent and extensive in inland areas and also slow to clear during the morning. Patches of drizzle and light rain in most areas with amounts generally quite small. Dull everywhere. Rainfall: nil to mm Temperature: max. 8 C to 1 C, min. -1 C to 4 C inland, up to 7 C coastal; ground temperatures down to -7 C at Kilkenny Sunshine: nil to 4 hours Tuesday 0th: The anticyclone of 43hPa to the southwest of Ireland continued to decline and was slow-moving. A weak warm front crossed the country during the day. Cold overnight in Ulster and north Leinster with ground frost in places at first. Milder weather elsewhere with drizzle pushing into the southwest, reaching the east coast by evening. Very little sunshine generally but afternoon temperatures were slightly above normal. Winds were light variable at first, becoming light to moderate westerly after the clearance of the front. Rainfall: nil to 1mm Temperature: max. 9 C to 1 C, min. 0 C to 6 C; ground temperatures down to - C in Clones Sunshine: nil to 3 hours Wednesday 1st: The area of high pressure to the southwest remained almost stationary. A cold front moved southwards over Ulster during the day. Mist and fog patches overnight with spots of light rain or drizzle; some slight ground frost in places also. The rest of the day and evening were mild and dull with patchy rain or drizzle. Winds were generally light westerly or northwesterly in direction. Rainfall: nil to mm Temperature: max. 8 C to 1 C, min. 4 C to 7 C; ground temperatures -1 C to 3 C Sunshine: nil to 3 hours DIARY Thursday nd: The anticyclone declined, allowing a rainbelt to drift slowly southwards over Ireland as a westerly airflow over the area strengthened. Widespread, mostly light, rain persisted in most places for much of the day. Becoming dry in some places later. Winds moderate to fresh and gusty, mostly westerly, later northwesterly. Some sunshine in the south and southeast. Rainfall: nil to 4mm Temperature: max. 8 C to 1 C, min. 4 C to 8 C, no ground frost Sunshine: 1 to 4 hours generally Friday 3rd: A northwesterly airflow became established over Ireland. A cooler, fresher day than of late. Some scattered showers, most frequent in the western half of the country. A few patches of light rain also. North to northwesterly winds, mostly light to moderate but stronger along the north coast, touching gale force at times during the morning. Some sunny spells in the south and southwest. No frost but feeling cold in the sharp northerly wind. Rainfall: nil to 3mm Temperature: max. 7 C to C, min. -1 C to 3 C; ground temperatures down to -6 C in Clones Sunshine: to hours generally, 7 hours at Malin Head Saturday 4th: High pressure to the northwest maintained a generally light northwest airflow over the country. Very cold overnight with widespread ground and air frost which cleared quickly from most areas as good sunny spells developed. It was a dry, sunny day with scattered wintry showers, mainly in northern areas and although cool it was quite pleasant in the sunshine. Ground frost developed again during the evening in many areas. Rainfall: nil to 1mm Temperature: max. 6 C to 9 C, min. - C to 0 C; ground temperatures down to - C in Clones Sunshine: 7 to hours generally Sunday th: A ridge of high pressure moved eastwards over the area as a frontal system moved southeastwards over the country during the afternoon. Very cold overnight with widespread frost which cleared quickly in the early sunshine. Cool, dry and bright weather at first changed to outbreaks of rain in northern areas by early afternoon, spreading southeastwards during the remainder of the day. The rain was generally light but persistent in places. Winds were light to moderate southwesterly, veering west to northwesterly. Rainfall: trace to 1mm, to 8mm in southwest and parts of north Temperature: max. 6 C to 9 C, min -3 C to 4 C; ground temperatures down to -9 C in Kilkenny Sunshine: nil to hours Monday 6th: A depression of 986hPa centered over northwest England was almost stationary leaving Ireland in a very strong northerly airflow. A cold front passed over the east coast into the Irish Sea. The day started with rain in the east and south and showers further west. Showers turned progressively to sleet and snow with accumulations even at sea level. Strong winds at first slackened off in the east before becoming very strong again during the evening. Rainfall: nil to mm in east, up to 14mm in Rosslare Temperature: max. 4 C to 7 C, mins. close to zero; ground temperatures down to - C in Kilkenny Sunshine: trace to hours Tuesday 7th: The depression to the east maintained a strong and bitterly cold northerly airflow over Ireland. Outbreaks of snow persisted near eastern and northeastern coasts, giving significant accumulations in places. Elsewhere it was mostly dry with just a few wintry showers. Sunny in the western half. Northerly winds reached gale force along northern and eastern coasts. Rainfall: nil to 1mm generally, 18mm at Dublin Airport Temperature: max. 0 C to 3 C near east coast, 6 C to 7 C in west, min. -1 C to C; ground temperatures -4 C to 1 C Sunshine: nil to hours in east, 6 to 8 hours in west Wednesday 8th: A depression over northwest France filled and moved northeastwards. Very cold overnight with widespread sharp to severe ground frost and scattered wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow. A cold, mostly sunny day with scattered wintry showers in coastal areas. Sharp to severe ground frost set in after dark. Northerly winds were generally light but were moderate to fresh and gusty on northern, eastern and some southern coasts. Rainfall: nil to 3mm Temperature: max. C to C, min. -4 C to 1 C; ground temperatures below zero everywhere, around - C inland Sunshine: nil in southeast, elsewhere 4 to hours 9

10 RAINFALL Dry in west and County/ midlands Station Total % of Number of Amount Most in Raindays Wetdays (mm) average a day / date (>0.mm) (>1mm) Rainfall totals were below normal over most of the country, but they were near or above normal in the south and in some coastal areas of the north and east. They ranged from 41mm at both Birr and Casement Aerodrome to 147mm at Maam Valley, Co. Galway, with percentage of normal values between 70% at both Belmullet and Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim and 138% at Rosslare. While it was the wettest February since 1994 at Rosslare, it was the driest since 1993 at Belmullet. There was less variation than normal in the number of wetdays during the month (days with 1.0mm or more of rainfall); there were between and 13 such days almost everywhere, with only 8 or 9 at some eastern stations. Most of the month s rainfall fell during the first 11 days, while there were also some heavy falls, mostly in the form of snow, between the th and 7th. In contrast, less than mm of rain was recorded generally between the 11th and the 4th. Maam Valley measured the highest daily fall, 4.3mm on the th. CO. CLARE SHANNON AIRPORT CARRON CO. CORK FERMOY (MOORE PARK) CORK AIRPORT SHERKIN ISLAND BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) CO. DONEGAL MALIN HEAD BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) LETTERKENNY(MAGHERENAN) CO. DUBLIN DUBLIN (PHOENIX PARK) DUBLIN AIRPORT CASEMENT AERODROME DUBLIN (MERRION SQUARE) CO. GALWAY GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.) MAAM VALLEY CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK BALLYGAR CO. KERRY VALENTIA OBSERVATORY ARDFERT (LISCAHANE) CO. KILKENNY KILKENNY CO. LEITRIM BALLINAMORE CO. LIMERICK MOUNT RUSSELL CO. LOUTH ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE) CO. MAYO BELMULLET STRAIDE CONNAUGHT AIRPORT CO. MEATH WARRENSTOWN CO. MONAGHAN CLONES CO. OFFALY BIRR DERRYGREENAGH CO. SLIGO ARDTARMON CO. TIPPERARY FETHARD (PARSONSHILL) CO. WATERFORD WATERFORD (TYCOR) DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) CO. WESTMEATH MULLINGAR II CO. WEXFORD JOHNSTOWN CASTLE ROSSLARE CLONROCHE JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK

11 Total rainfall (mm) RAINFALL 11 Percentage of normal rainfall Daily 0-4h rainfall values (mm) Valentia Observatory Dublin Airport Clones

12 1 TEMPERATURE Cold end to an otherwise mild month Relatively mild weather prevailed during most of February, but some cold weather at times, especially during the final week, brought mean temperatures close to normal for the month overall. Mean air temperatures for the month ranged from 3.8 C at Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, to 7. C at Sherkin Island, Co. Cork, and were within half a degree of normal almost everywhere. Despite being close to normal, it was the coldest February everywhere since Air frost was frequent during the month, with more than air frosts at around half the stations compared with the normal range for February of between 3 and 9. Like last month, Rosslare was the only station to escape without any air frost. The lowest air temperature of the month, -6.1 C, was recorded at Ballinamore on the 9th, while the lowest grass minimum temperature, C, was measured at Kilkenny on the same day. Dublin Airport s grass minimum temperature of C on the 14th was its lowest such value for February in 60 years of record. The warmest day of the month at most Daily 0-4h maximum temperatures ( C) SCALE +0. C +0.3 C +1.0 C -1.0 C +0.4 C +0.7 C +0. C +0.4 C +0.1 C 0.0 C +0. C Mean Temperature (difference from normals) -0.1 C +0.3 C stations was the th; Dublin (Merrion Square) measured the highest value on this day, 14.0 C Valentia Observatory Dublin Airport Clones Daily 0-4h minimum temperatures ( C) Valentia Observatory Dublin Airport Clones

13 County/ Station TEMPERATURE C 13 Mean/ deviation Mean Mean from Highest Lowest Lowest Days with max. min. average max./date min./date grass min./date air frost ground frost CO. CLARE SHANNON AIRPORT CARRON CO. CORK FERMOY (MOORE PARK) CORK AIRPORT SHERKIN ISLAND BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) CO. DONEGAL MALIN HEAD BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) LETTERKENNY(MAGHERENAN) CO. DUBLIN DUBLIN (PHOENIX PARK) DUBLIN AIRPORT CASEMENT AERODROME DUBLIN (MERRION SQUARE) CO. GALWAY GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.) not available --- MAAM VALLEY CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK BALLYGAR CO. KERRY VALENTIA OBSERVATORY ARDFERT (LISCAHANE) CO. KILKENNY KILKENNY CO. LEITRIM BALLINAMORE CO. LIMERICK MOUNT RUSSELL CO. LOUTH ARDEE (BOHARNAMOE) CO. MAYO BELMULLET STRAIDE CONNAUGHT AIRPORT CO. MEATH WARRENSTOWN CO. MONAGHAN CLONES CO. OFFALY BIRR DERRYGREENAGH CO. SLIGO ARDTARMON CO. TIPPERARY FETHARD (PARSONSHILL) CO. WATERFORD WATERFORD (TYCOR) DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) CO. WESTMEATH MULLINGAR II CO. WEXFORD JOHNSTOWN CASTLE ROSSLARE CLONROCHE JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK

14 14 SUNSHINE County/ Station Daily mean % of % of Most in (hours/day) average possible a day/date CO. CLARE SHANNON AIRPORT CO. CORK CORK AIRPORT SHERKIN ISLAND BALLINCURRIG (PEAFIELD) CO. DONEGAL MALIN HEAD BALLYSHANNON(CATHLEEN'S FALL) CO. DUBLIN DUBLIN AIRPORT CASEMENT AERODROME CO. GALWAY GALWAY (UNIV.COLL.) CO. KERRY VALENTIA OBSERVATORY ARDFERT (LISCAHANE) CO. KILKENNY KILKENNY CO. LEITRIM BALLINAMORE CO. MAYO BELMULLET STRAIDE CONNAUGHT AIRPORT CO. MONAGHAN CLONES CO. OFFALY BIRR CO. WATERFORD DUNGARVAN (CARRIGLEA) CO. WESTMEATH MULLINGAR II CO. WEXFORD JOHNSTOWN CASTLE ROSSLARE CLONROCHE JOHN F. KENNEDY PARK Daily sunshine values(hours) Another sunny month Following a much sunnier than normal January, sunshine totals for this month were again well above normal generally. They ranged from 67 hours at Kilkenny to 0 hours at Ardfert (Liscahane), Co. Kerry, with percentage of normal values between 1% at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford and 167% at Clones. It was the sunniest February at most station since 1996 and at both Mullingar and Dublin Airport since Mullingar measured the highest daily sunshine of the month, 9.9 hours on the 8th. Daily sunshine values of 9.8 hours recorded on either the 4th or 8th at Clones, Kilkenny and Cork Airport were the highest February values on record at each station. Global solar radiation totals were normal or above everywhere, ranging from 0% at Valentia Observatory to 13% at Dublin Airport. SCALE 16% 10% 0% 138% 137% 113% 17% 146% 167% 1% % 11% 118% Total Sunshine (difference from normals) Valentia Observatory Dublin Airport Clones

15 EUROPEAN AND WORLD WEATHER 1 % FEBRUARY RAINFALL (Percentage of normal) C FEBRUARY MEAN TEMPERATURES (difference from normal) -3 - Data supplied by NOAA Climate Prediction Centre, US Department of Commerce It was a month of contrasting temperatures over Canada. Northern regions had mean temperatures well above average; at Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories, for example, the mean of -1 C may not sound high, but this was seven degrees above normal for February. Further south, however, Regina s mean of -19 C was six degrees below normal. Global weather highlights of the month It was an exceptionally cold month over northern Scandinavia, with values of between -38 C and - C measured here around mid-month, over fifteen degrees below the normal February minima. Late February saw a diminution in the bitterly cold conditions which affected Siberia, northern China and Mongolia since late 000. Reported values of around -70 C in mid-january in the Kemerovo region represent the lowest air temperatures ever recorded in Asia. Unusually heavy rain affected large areas of both western and northeastern Australia during the month. In the northeast, a wet month was capped by some torrential falls during the last week associated with tropical storm Abigail ; Cairns received a total of 8mm during the month, twice its normal February fall.

16 16 WINTER SUMMARY The Weather of December, January and February Sunny and mostly dry; temperatures near normal Rainfall totals for the season were below normal over most of the country. The very wet weather of autumn continued into the first half of December, but apart from another spell of wet weather in early February the remainder of the season was relatively dry. Most stations recorded only around half their normal January rainfall totals. Mean temperatures for the season were within half a degree of normal almost everywhere. January was cold, while both December and February had spells of both mild and very cold weather. Arctic air during late December and again in late February brought some very low temperatures and significant snowfalls except in the south; air temperatures reached their lowest values for 0 years in places between December 7th and 30th. 9 Although seasonal mean temperatures were close to normal, the mild winters of recent years meant that this winter was the coldest for at least years everywhere and for years at some stations (see chart below). Sunshine totals for the season were above normal everywhere. Each of the winter months was sunnier than normal almost everywhere. It was the sunniest winter for at least years generally and for over 40 years in places; Malin Head s total of 09 hours was its highest for winter since sunshine records began there in 191. Daily sunshine values of 9 hours or more were measured on a number of days during the second half of February. Mean wind speeds for the season were below normal everywhere; Valentia Observatory s mean value of 9. knots (.9 m.p.h.) was its lowest for winter in over 70 years of record. Cork Airport measured the highest gust of the season, 64 knots (74m.p.h.), on February 6th. 8 Mean Winter 7 Temperature C Valentia Observatory Clones 1990/1 1991/ 199/3 1993/4 1994/ 199/6 1996/7 1997/8 1998/9 1999/00 000/01 Year County/ Station Total RAINFALL (mm) TEMPERATURE ( C) SUNSHINE (HOURS) NO. OF DAYS WITH: % of average Most in a day amount date(s) diff. from Extremes Mean average Highest Lowest Daily mean most in a day amount date(s) CO. CLARE SHANNON AIRPORT Feb Feb CO. CORK CORK AIRPORT Dec Mar CO. DONEGAL MALIN HEAD Dec Mar CO. DUBLIN DUBLIN AIRPORT Dec Feb CASEMENT AERODROME Dec Feb CO. KERRY VALENTIA OBSERVATORY Dec Mar CO. KILKENNY KILKENNY Jan Feb CO. MAYO BELMULLET Dec Feb CONNAUGHT AIRPORT Dec Feb CO. MONAGHAN CLONES Dec Feb CO. OFFALY BIRR Dec Feb 8 9 CO. WESTMEATH MULLINGAR II Dec Feb CO. WEXFORD ROSSLARE Dec Feb % of average Rain Snow Air frost Hail Thunder Fog Gale gusts