The winter of 2023/2024 was the eleventh consecutive season with above average temperatures, according to Met Éireann’s weather provisional statement.
All mean air temperatures across the country were above the long term average for the season, including months December, January and February.
Mean temperatures for the season ranged from 5.5°C at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo to 8.5°C at Sherkin Island, Co. Cork.
The season’s lowest temperatures were recorded on Thursday, January 18. The lowest air minimum was reported at Athenry, Co. Galway at -7.3°C.
The lowest grass minimum was reported at Oak Park, Co. Carlow at -13.3°C.
The highest maximum was reported on Sunday, January 28 at Belmullet, Co. Mayo, with a temperature of 15.4°C.
All stations reported air and ground frost during the season. The number of days with ground frost ranged from 19 days at both Roche’s Point, Co. Cork and Malin Head, Co. Donegal to 50 days at Mount Dillon, Co. Roscommon.
Rainfall
Nearly all rainfall totals were also above their long term average.
Percentage of rainfall values ranged from 96% at Sherkin Island, Co. Cork to 139% at Athenry, Co. Galway.
Seasonal rainfall totals ranged from 200.5mm at Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin to 617.0mm in Newport, Co. Mayo.
The highest daily rainfall total was 36.4mm, recorded at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford on Thursday, February 8.
The number of rainy days ranged from 52 days at Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin to 82 days at both Newport, Co. Mayo and Belmullet, Co. Mayo.
In January, nine stations in the midlands, south and east had dry spells lasting between 16 and 17 days.
There was one absolute drought at Moore Park, Co. Cork, which was recorded between Thursday, January 4 and Friday, January 19, lasting 16 consecutive days.
In contrast, all available sunshine totals were also above average for the season.
Seasonal sunshine totals ranged from 138.4 hours at Belmullet, Co. Mayo to 231.2 hours at Cork Airport, Co. Cork.
Winter wind
Seasonal mean wind speeds ranged from 6.4 knots (11.9 km/h) at Moore Park, Co. Cork to 17.4 knots (32.2 km/h) at Malin Head, Co. Donegal.
Winter 2023/2024 saw storm force winds, with six named storms throughout the period.
Force winds were reported on Sunday, December 10 during Storm Fergus, Sunday, January 21 and Monday, January 22 during Storm Isha, and Tuesday, January 23 during storm Jocelyn.
Up to violent storm force winds were reported on Sunday, January 21 at Mace Head, Co. Galway during storm Isha.
Storm Elin and storm Fergus, both named by Met Éireann, crossed directly over the country on December, 9 and 10.
Storm Gerrit, named by the UK Met Office and Storm Geraldine, named by Météo-France, brought periods of wet and windy weather during the final week of the month.
The first two thirds of January were cold and relatively dry with high pressure to the north in charge.