All mean air temperatures for the month of April were below their Long-Term Averages (LTAs) with Dublin Airport recording its coldest airport since 1986, according to Met Eireann.
Dublin Airport equalled the month’s lowest mean temperature of 6.3 degrees Celsius and reported the second largest deviation from LTA with minus 1.9 degrees.
April mean air temperatures ranged from minus 0.8 degrees at Roche’s Point, Co. Cork (mean temperature of 8.3 degrees) to minus 2.0 degrees at Markree, Co. Sligo (mean temperature of 6.4 degrees).
Other stations in Dublin at Phoenix Park and Casement Aerodrome, recorded their coolest April conditions in 16 and 27 years, respectively, with mean temperatures between 1 degree and 1.5 degrees below LTA.
Despite below average mean temperatures elsewhere, according to Met Eireann cooler conditions prevailed in April 2013 and 2012.
The lowest temperatures were mostly on the April 9,10 and 27 with the month’s lowest air minimum of minus 3.3 degrees at Markree on the April 10 and the month’s lowest grass minimum of minus 8.0 degrees at both Carlow (Oak Park) on the April 10 and Mullingar, Co Westmeath on April 27.
Rainfall
Meanwhile, Met Eireann reports that rainfall totals were variable across the country, with the majority of stations reporting above LTA rainfall.
Most stations with below LTA rainfall were in parts of the west, northwest and southwest, while percentage of LTA rainfall values were lowest at Finner, Co. Donegal with 60% and a monthly rainfall total of 45.5mm.
Percentage of LTA values were highest in the south and east with Dublin Airport reporting the month’s highest percentage of LTA with 163% (88.2 mm).
This high monthly total was attributed to heavy rainfall on the April 11 where just under half its monthly total (38.7 mm) fell within 24 hours, recording the station’s wettest April day since it opened 74 years ago.
Stations in Co. Cork reported at least a third or more of their monthly rainfall on the April 10, with the majority of these and a few isolated stations in the Midlands reporting their wettest April since 2009.
Wind
Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 6.3 knots (11.7km/h) at both Ballyhaise and Mullingar to 15.2 knots (28.2km/h) at Malin Head, Co. Donegal.
Seven days (April 1, 6, 10, 11, 25, 26 and 28) had gale-force winds with the strongest and most widespread winds reported on the April 6.
Both the highest 10-minute mean wind speed and highest gust were recorded at Mace Head on this date with 38 knots (70km/h) and 52 knots (96km/h), respectively.