Spring 2020 - General Discussion

DOCARCH · 12-05-2020 6:15am

Mullingar currently reporting -3c (at 0600).

Slashermcguirk · 12-05-2020 6:17am

Seriously has there ever been a drier spring than this?? Looks like dry weather for the foreseeable future too. 42mm of rain in Dublin since 1st March, that is unbelievable, heading towards 3 months

Slashermcguirk · 12-05-2020 6:19am

Matt Damon In Dalkey since early March must be thinking what is all this nonsense about rainy Ireland??? Probably been drier than most of USA the past few months

Slashermcguirk · 12-05-2020 6:23am

DOCARCH wrote: »

Mullingar currently reporting -3c (at 0600).

Holy cow, didn’t know that was even possible in May

Mortelaro · 12-05-2020 7:59am

Min here in Arklow was o.7c at 645am
Frost all night
Its reached 9.3c already in brilliant sunshine

12-05-2020 8:00am

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

The answer is yes if anyone's interested. Sat out for about 90 mins earlier and now I look properly sunkissed, and I don't burn easy. The sun feels just as warm as last week except the wind is chilly so it's grand out of the wind if you can find a spot

This ^^

Came home from work yesterday, blue skies and sunshine, found a sheltered spot at the garden wall and got 2 hours of glorious warm sun!
Went out this morning and it’s the same , while the air is cool the sun is warm especially in sheltered spots , thank God Sunday’s strong breeze is gone.

Ground is so dry on the East coast it’s cracking , been watering plants and seedlings for weeks now. Farmers probably aren’t happy as crops in fields are quite slow so far.

pad199207 · 12-05-2020 8:05am

Dipped down to -0.5c in Kildare last night. Wind much lighter this morning thankfully.

highdef · 12-05-2020 9:17am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

This ^^

Came home from work yesterday, blue skies and sunshine, found a sheltered spot at the garden wall and got 2 hours of glorious warm sun!
Went out this morning and it’s the same , while the air is cool the sun is warm especially in sheltered spots , thank God Sunday’s strong breeze is gone.

Ground is so dry on the East coast it’s cracking , been watering plants and seedlings for weeks now. Farmers probably aren’t happy as crops in fields are quite slow so far.

And the same in North Kildare. I've created a new garden, specifically to keep any sort of a breeze from the north or East away from it. I was sunbathing at lunchtime yesterday in blazing UV index of 6 sunshine in completely calm conditions whilst listening to the strong breeze in the large hedges and trees above me. I've a lot of dark surfaces (mainly wood bark) in this garden and they heat up very quickly in the strong May sunshine. This, combined with very little air movement helps the air temperatures rise a bit more than surrounding areas.

Apart from a lot of flora, I've also got a pond. This too absorbs the heat from the sun during the day and keeps the air temperatures up. Conversely, in the winter it is in the shade all of the time due to its placement. This means that during the winter it often freezes over and can stay frozen for days, if not weeks, due to lack of wind and sunshine. So in winter the pond can ensure that the garden is kept colder than surrounding areas.

Aren't microclimates just wonderful!

Slashermcguirk · 12-05-2020 9:26am

I have noticed here in Dublin the soil is cracking, I recall seeing that during the great warm summer in 2018. Unusual to see that at this time of year with the lack of rainfall.

sryanbruen · 12-05-2020 9:54am

DOCARCH wrote: »

Mullingar currently reporting -3c (at 0600).

A new record for May.

https://twitter.com/kilkennyweather/status/1260145341514596353?s=21

12-05-2020 10:56am

highdef wrote: »

And the same in North Kildare. I've created a new garden, specifically to keep any sort of a breeze from the north or East away from it. I was sunbathing at lunchtime yesterday in blazing UV index of 6 sunshine in completely calm conditions whilst listening to the strong breeze in the large hedges and trees above me. I've a lot of dark surfaces (mainly wood bark) in this garden and they heat up very quickly in the strong May sunshine. This, combined with very little air movement helps the air temperatures rise a bit more than surrounding areas.

Apart from a lot of flora, I've also got a pond. This too absorbs the heat from the sun during the day and keeps the air temperatures up. Conversely, in the winter it is in the shade all of the time due to its placement. This means that during the winter it often freezes over and can stay frozen for days, if not weeks, due to lack of wind and sunshine. So in winter the pond can ensure that the garden is kept colder than surrounding areas.

Aren't microclimates just wonderful!

That sounds amazing ! I’m halfway there , the sun moves around my garden all day so I’ve created some nice sheltered spots too with high bushes and shrubs for shelter or the garden wall. I’m a few kilometers from the beach so definitely need shelter from Easterly breezes.

A little pond or even water feature is next, I think my visiting birds would like some bird baths !

compsys · 12-05-2020 11:51am

sryanbruen wrote: »

A new record for May.

https://twitter.com/kilkennyweather/status/1260145341514596353?s=21

What other stations have changed over the years do you know sryanbruen?

I understand DA moved to a much colder location in recent years. While looking at recent temps it seems like Markree Castle did too.

SleetAndSnow · 12-05-2020 12:34pm

About 12 degrees today in cork city and sunny

. In the part of my garden with little wind it is very warm, bit of a suntrap. Other part of the garden is a bit chillier with the wind but bearable. Soaking up the vitamin D

Kutebride · 12-05-2020 12:53pm

Freezing here with full cloud cover after a morning of blue skies.
It was warmer yesterday in the breeze with true blue skies.
Meath

Gonzo · 12-05-2020 1:01pm

Kutebride wrote: »

Freezing here with full cloud cover after a morning of blue skies.
It was warmer yesterday in the breeze with true blue skies.
Meath

yep today is more of a repeat of Sunday, totally cloudy and chilly, the wind isn't as strong as Sunday so it doesn't feel quite as bitter. Still cold enough for full winter gear.

Slashermcguirk · 12-05-2020 1:23pm

compsys wrote: »

What other stations have changed over the years do you know sryanbruen?

I understand DA moved to a much colder location in recent years. While looking at recent temps it seems like Markree Castle did too.

Why does Kilkenny not have a weather station. It is always in contention to be the warmest spot in Ireland because of its location. I think the all time heat record was measured there but it’s not there anymore, very odd

RobertKK · 12-05-2020 3:03pm

Slashermcguirk wrote: »

Why does Kilkenny not have a weather station. It is always in contention to be the warmest spot in Ireland because of its location. I think the all time heat record was measured there but it’s not there anymore, very odd

The stupid council allowed the area around the Met station to be build up so it was too urbanised.

Kilkenny is indeed a great weather location between the high hills around the edge of the county and the low inland area of the county.

Oak Park replaced it but it does not have the same characteristics as a location to get record warmth or very cold temperatures.

Clonmel1000 · 12-05-2020 4:17pm

Gonzo wrote: »

yep today is more of a repeat of Sunday, totally cloudy and chilly, the wind isn't as strong as Sunday so it doesn't feel quite as bitter. Still cold enough for full winter gear.

No shorts GonzoðŸ˜¬

Mortelaro · 12-05-2020 4:55pm

Gonzo wrote: »

yep today is more of a repeat of Sunday, totally cloudy and chilly, the wind isn't as strong as Sunday so it doesn't feel quite as bitter. Still cold enough for full winter gear.

Sunny down here in Arklow all day after a very frosty start
Cold though
But no wind so felt a lot better
Max today also warmer that yesterday here 11.7c
Thats almost 3c higher than yesterday

Donegal Storm · 12-05-2020 11:24pm

highdef wrote: »

And the same in North Kildare. I've created a new garden, specifically to keep any sort of a breeze from the north or East away from it.

Funny I've been working on exactly the same thing albeit shelter from the SW clockwise to NE as east wind is warm here in the summer months. The wind has been annoying me throughout the past couple of months but should finally have a proper sheltered area to sit out in by next weekend

Meteorite58 · 13-05-2020 6:27am

SouthWesterly wrote: »

I got 0.7C this morning at 7am in North Kerry.

Currently 5.9C

Where's the photo taken.?

Picture taken from Banna Beach which is between Ardfert and Ballyheigue.

gerrybhoy · 13-05-2020 10:19am

Hopefully Saturday is a nice day,sadly my wee girls communion was meant to be then,it is what it is same for many over the country i suppose,so a family BBQ would be great for the wee one

sryanbruen · 13-05-2020 10:26am

sryanbruen wrote: »

Hopefully lengthy dry spells at some point during spring, we deserve it after the February we just had!

Well, ask and you shall receive!

Clonmel1000 · 13-05-2020 1:12pm

It’s still disappointingly cool here today. Big improvement on this morning which was cold and cloudy as the sun has broken though. Once the sun goes in though there quite a sting in the air. Hopefully sun wins through for the afternoon but I’ve my doubts looking out.

Artane2002 · 13-05-2020 1:47pm

Sunny but 8.5c and breezy in Dublin 5.

Gonzo · 13-05-2020 2:28pm

we had a very chilly morning here, the wind was strong enough as well which made it feel even colder. Sun is back out now and the wind has died down a bit so it doesn't feel as bad as earlier.

silverharp · 13-05-2020 3:17pm

Its Northern Norway, but close to the middle of May they must be p1ssed

https://twitter.com/gionninanni/status/1260303081000112129

Oneiric 3 · 13-05-2020 3:49pm

At 0.7c, yesterday's average minima over Ireland was the coldest mid (11th-20th) May average minima in at least 45 years. However, it is not a record breaker when considering May as a whole. For example, the opening days of May 1979 saw the average min temp falling to below zero between the 2nd and 4th.

Just after watching 'Gav's Weather Vids' there and it seems there are hints that we may see a major warm up during the last 3rd of the month, so despite this brief chilly snap, it is all but certain now that this May still finish well above average temperature wise.

Donegal Storm · 13-05-2020 4:29pm

Beautiful cloudless day in Donegal again but that incessant cold wind just won't f*#& off, my single biggest complaint throughout the past 2 months

compsys · 13-05-2020 5:12pm

Donegal Storm wrote: »

Beautiful cloudless day in Donegal again but that incessant cold wind just won't f*#& off, my single biggest complaint throughout the past 2 months

It's been the same in the East if it's any consolation. Endless blue skies but the temperature has only gotten above 15 or 16 degrees on around 4 or 5 days max in Dublin I'd say due to the sea breeze.

Carol25 · 13-05-2020 5:25pm

Very cool nights but bright and sunny by day. Weather has been a Godsend during this time. Really hope we get a decent summer - even early on to give people a lift while restrictions continue.

Oscar Bravo · 13-05-2020 6:27pm

What a beautiful evening here in Castlebar. Clear blue skies all the way.

Hooter23 · 13-05-2020 7:11pm

Mostly cloudy in Galway cleared up from about 6 oclock onwards

SleetAndSnow · 13-05-2020 7:20pm

Same in Cork, cleared up from about 2/3 and is now mostly blue sky. Chilly though!

pad199207 · 13-05-2020 7:31pm

Stunning evening in Kildare.

Harry Palmr · 13-05-2020 8:41pm

Glorious day if you were inside looking out!

Cutting wind

The outlook is nuts bar some rain likely on the weekend in the western/northern flanks it's going to be dry as far as can be plausibly seen.

highdef · 13-05-2020 8:45pm

Temperature plummeting in North kildare. Already below 3c. Contrasts with this afternoon when I fell asleep while sunbathing in the garden!

SleetAndSnow · 13-05-2020 8:56pm

Lovely evening in cork city. Blue skies and a really nice sunset. Chilly at first when starting to walk but once walking for a bit was really nice.

SouthWesterly · 13-05-2020 8:59pm

Currently 6.1 here. Clear skies, lovely sunset

richardgreene · 13-05-2020 9:02pm

Maybe this has been covered already but....
Why have we had wind from the East for 4 or 5 weeks now.

I'd really love to know the cause, and is it normal.

R

pad199207 · 13-05-2020 9:10pm

richardgreene wrote: »

Maybe this has been covered already but....
Why have we had wind from the East for 4 or 5 weeks now.

I'd really love to know the cause, and is it normal.

R

Basically because Mother Nature loves to piss us all off and gives us ideal winter conditions coming into Summer.

Danzy · 13-05-2020 9:21pm

richardgreene wrote: »

Maybe this has been covered already but....
Why have we had wind from the East for 4 or 5 weeks now.

I'd really love to know the cause, and is it normal.

R

Not normal at all for that duration.

Real drought weather building fast.

Moisture is being stripped off the ground at a concerning rate.

esposito · 13-05-2020 9:23pm

richardgreene wrote: »

Maybe this has been covered already but....
Why have we had wind from the East for 4 or 5 weeks now.

I'd really love to know the cause, and is it normal.

R

There’s always a higher chance of easterly winds at this time of year because the polar vortex has weakened, allowing high pressure to build north of Ireland dragging in winds from the east.

Goldfinch8 · 13-05-2020 10:10pm

Lovely colour lingered in the sky well after sunset this evening to bring a nice conclusion to the day.
It has been a good spell for some beautiful evening skies in the west for the past few weeks.

Oscar Bravo · 13-05-2020 10:16pm

11pm 13/5/20

Dublin Airport 0 degrees
Phoenix Park 2 degrees
Oak Park 2 degrees
Dunsany 2 degrees

newholland mad · 13-05-2020 10:27pm

Frost on the roof of the car already in carlow.

bazlers · 14-05-2020 5:53am

Some seriouly cold temps for May again last night. I hope everyone had their spuds covered : /

JCX BXC · 14-05-2020 9:35am

The bluest sky I've seen in a very long time, fabulous morning West Clare.

sryanbruen · 14-05-2020 9:46am

compsys wrote: »

What other stations have changed over the years do you know sryanbruen?

I understand DA moved to a much colder location in recent years. While looking at recent temps it seems like Markree Castle did too.

Shannon Airport is another one I'm aware of that was moved around 2003. Can't think of any other off the top of my head.

Katesbridge in Northern Ireland recorded -6.1C this morning, its lowest May temperature on record and lowest in N.I. for May since 1982. Keep in mind, Katesbridge is a big frost hollow.

Looks like the Mullingar -3.2C from Tuesday morning is the lowest we have gotten. This makes it the lowest May temperature at a synoptic station since 2012 when Casement observed -3.6C on 6 May.

richardgreene · 14-05-2020 10:13am

esposito wrote: »

There’s always a higher chance of easterly winds at this time of year because the polar vortex has weakened, allowing high pressure to build north of Ireland dragging in winds from the east.

@esposito @Danzy Thanks lads for the explanations. @pad199207 Ha, thanks for the cynicism 🤪

Spring 2020 - General Discussion

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