Met Éireann has confirmed today (Wednesday, October 2) that last month was the coldest September in six years.
The average national temperature for September 2024 was 13.18° which is 0.42° below the most recent 1991 to 2020 long-term average.
The national metrological service also said that September 2024 was the second driest month of the year so far – behind June – and the 14th driest September since 1941.
Provisional gridded rainfall data suggests September 2024 averaged at 63.6 mm compared to the rainfall amount for June 2024 – 20.8 mm.
Met Éireann
Latest research show that September 2024 was “cool and dry overall”, however, conditions varied considerably throughout the month and from region to region.
“The north and west saw the sunniest and driest conditions with high pressure to the north dominating, while the south and east saw more rain, wind and cloud with low pressure to the south dominating.
“The month began with frontal rain encroaching from the east before Atlantic fronts introduced a cooler polar maritime air mass with showers for a few days,” Met Éireann said.
But high pressure built to the north of Ireland towards the end of the first week, while low pressure over mainland Europe steered a very warm tropical continental air mass over the country from the east.
“This brought the warmest period of the month for many on Friday 6 and Saturday 7.
“The second week saw high pressure to the west and low pressure over Scandinavia steering a cooler polar maritime air mass south over the country, with rain or showers at times and the first air frost of autumn on Friday 13 at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon,” the national metrological service added.
This was the earliest first autumn frost in 32 years.
While the third week brought “warm, dry and sunny” conditions this gave way to spells of wet and windy weather as the month drew to a close.
The Met Éireann Climate Statement for September 2024 also shows that “sunshine values were variable across the country”.
“The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this month was 12.7 hours at Belmullet, Co Mayo on Thursday 5.
“The number of dull days ranged from five days at both Malin Head, Co Donegal and Belmullet, Co Mayo to 10 days at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin,” it outlined.