According to Met Eireann’s monthly weather summary for December rainfall was above average in all areas, with some parts particularly Cork seeing its wettest December in 24 years.
Athenry recorded the largest level of rainfall in Ireland with 220.3mm falling in the month 78 per cent above normal values. Also Stations at Cork airport and Moorpark recorded there wettest December in 24 and 20 years respectively.
The high rainfall was a feature throughout the country in December with many stations in the east and west recording the highest December rainfall in 7 years.
Although December was undoubtedly a wet month it was warm too with mean temperatures above normal throughout the country. December temperatures ranged from 0.3 degrees to two degrees above average for December.
Wind was clearly also a feature of December particularly towards the end of the month. According to Met Eireann, gale force winds were reported on 20 days during the month and storm force winds were reported on six days.
It also says lightning activity was recorded on almost half of the days of the month, with the heaviest activity on the 21st of December. Ground and air frost was recorded on 23 days and 11 days respectively during the month.
The wet and windy weather is yet to abate in 2013 with high winds and heavy rain battering the country last night and this morning.
There is little respite in sight at present as Met Eireann continues to have a weather warning in place for this morning. According to Met Eireann, south west winds with mean speeds of 65 to 90 km/hr with gusts 110 to 130 km/hr will continue to batter the country this morning.
Heavy rain is also forecast, this coupled with high tides and already saturated land, will lead to local flooding, especially in coastal areas. Forecasters also say that there is and will continue to be potentially dangerous conditions on some roads and with some flooding.
Met Eireann is also forecasting at this stage for another storm to move across the country on Sunday and Monday bringing more high winds and yet more heavy rainfall.