Ireland had record cold February, below normal rainfall

Overall, high pressure weather dominated Ireland during February, Met Éireann said in their monthly weather summary for February 2018. Rainfall totals were below normal in many areas, while sunshine totals were above normal. After sunny, dry, calm weather in the final week of the month, the last day (28^th) brought snow and record low temperatures. Gurteen, County Tipperary recorded a maximum air temperature of -1.1 °C (30 °F), 9.8 °C (17.6 °F) below its Long-Term Average (LTA).

Nearly all rainfall totals were below their LTA for the month. Percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 50% (monthly rainfall total of 48.7 mm / 1.91 inches) at Cork Airport to 127% (monthly rainfall total of 123.7 mm / 4.98 inches) at Belmullet, County Mayo. 

Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 25.5 mm / 1 inch (percentage of LTA 53%) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 155.6 mm / 6.12 inches (percentage of LTA 123%) at Newport, Co Mayo.

The month's wettest day was also recorded at Newport, Co Mayo with 43.1 mm (1.69 inches) on February 10. The number of rain days ranged from 14 days at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 23 days at Sherkin Island, Co Cork.

The number of wet days (those with 1 mm / 0.04 inches or more) ranged from 7 days at Dublin Airport to 18 days at Newport, Co Mayo and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. The number of very wet days (those with 10 mm / 0.4 inches or more) ranged from zero days at a few stations to 4 days at Newport, Co Mayo. Widespread snow occurred on the 28^th.

All mean air temperatures across the country were below their LTA for the month. Deviations from mean air temperature for the month ranged from -2.1 °C (-3.8 °F) at Oak Park and Markree (mean temperature 13.4 °C / 56.1 °F and 12.0 °C / 53.6 °F respectively) at various stations to -1.3 °C / -2.3 °F (4.1 °C / 39.4 °F mean temperature) at Finner, Co Dongeal.

Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 2.9 °C / 37.2 °F (difference from LTA -1.3 °C) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 6.1 °C / 43 °F (difference from LTA -1.4 °C / -2.5 °F) at Sherkin Island, Co Cork.

The month's highest temperature was reported at Fermoy (Moore Park), Co Cork on February 19 with a temperature of 14.3 °C / 57.7 °F.

The month's lowest air minimum was recorded on February 28 at Gurteen, Co Tipperary with -5.7 °C (21.7 °F) while the lowest grass minimum was -11.5 °C (11.3 °F) reported at Markree, Co Sligo on February 27.

All stations reported air and ground frost during the month. The number of days with ground frost ranged from 6 days at Sherkin Island, Co Cork to 27 days at both Dublin (Phoenix Park) and Ballyhaise, Co Cavan. The number of days with air frost ranged from 2 days at Mace Head, Co Galway to 15 days at both Markree, Co Sligo and Claremorris, Co Mayo.

All available sunshine totals were above their LTA. Percentage of monthly sunshine values ranged from 147% (monthly sunshine total of 104.4 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 157% at Knock Airport, Co Mayo (monthly sunshine total of 94.4 hours).

Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 12 km/h (7.45 mph) at Fermoy (Moore Park), Co Cork and Mullingar, Co Westmeath to 31.9 km/h (19.8 mph) at Malin Head, Co Donegal. 

The month's highest gust was reported at both Mace Head, Co Galway and Roche's Point, Co Cork on February 12 and 15 with 107.4 km/h (66.7 mph). The highest 10-minute wind speed was 83.3 km/h (51.7 mph) at Mace Head, Co Galway on the 11^th.

This report is based on Met Éireann monthly weather summary for February 2018 (source)

Featured image: Snow day in Kinsale, Ireland on February 28, 2018. Credit: Daniel Carey @thedanielcarey