Unseasonally dry

None of ye from Mayo obviously.
I've been putting up a fence so keeping an eye on the weather. Here in Newport it's been raining most days, ground is still wet from this morning's shower. I got a couple of dry days last week and it's looking good now so hopefully we'll get a decent spell of weather down here from now.

mick145 wrote: »

Is it just me or for the past 3 weeks or so it’s been very dry in Ireland for the time of year? Usually this time of year in Ireland is a free for all for the notorious Irish rain but I’ve noticed it’s more or less been relatively rain free for a long time now?

It has been drier than normal but the February to June period is the driest part of the year on average for Ireland due to the reduction in westerly airstreams as continental anticyclones advect their influence westward before the inevitable 'return of the westerlies' through the latter part of the summer as pressure rises over the continent and falls over the ocean. Of course, this is on average rather than a rule as we have had very westerly springs before but as a result, dry weather is most frequent as this time of year so wouldn't say it's 'unseasonable'.

Last year, April was notably dry with numerous droughts and dry spells being recorded for most of the country that began in the second half of March so not unique to this year. Soil moisture deficits (figures refer to well drained soils) are quite similar as of April 8th to last year:

2020
Dublin Airport: 27mm
Malin Head: 13mm
Valentia Observatory: 10mm

2021
Dublin Airport: 24mm
Malin Head: 1mm
Valentia Observatory: 10mm

Evidently by the Malin Head figure, deficits are closer to average more generally in the north of the country this year as compared to 2020. Both March 2020 and 2021 despite drier conditions in the south and east of the country were more changeable and unsettled in the north and northwest.

No hiding the fact that it has been a pretty dry spring so far for a few fair regions but a bit early to come to conclusions if we're going a similar form to what last spring offered as both April and May 2020 were exceptionally dry especially in the east of the country breaking long-term records. No sign of a full on Atlantic onslaught so there's that but probably the most notable difference between last year and this year is the temperature. We're likely to see a fair increase in the temperature later next week going by models but mainly closer to average than anything warm as compared to this time last year when we were seeing the first time getting into the 20s so evaporative rates not likely to be quite as high.

Ground still wet here in Leitrim. Rains regularly.

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Seems to me, at least in the last few years, that the wettest months are in July and August, when there just seems to be weeks of really low cloud and monsoon type downpours.
Maybe I'm just more conscious of the rain at that time of year because I want nice weather so bad, but there were definitely weeks during the last few summers where I was getting soaked cycling in and out of work regularly, and it didn't seem to happen as much in the colder months.

Every July from 2016 to 2019 in Dublin was on the drier side whilst 2020 was much more unsettled. Usually one of our driest months of the year on average, possibly due to it being a very southwesterly month with Dublin often in the Wicklow rain shadow. 2020 was much more northwesterly in comparison.

Each August has been unsettled in some way since the last widely drier than average one in 2013 albeit even that one was quite changeable - 2018 less so.

Farming commentary on met.ie

The past week has been fairly dry across the country with just 2-5mm of rainfall recorded generally, but up to 10mm in parts of the north and northwest, well below the weekly average for April. The next 7 days will bring varied rainfall amounts across the nation due to a showery regime. Many areas will see below normal rainfall with around 5mm expected. However, some areas, especially Atlantic coastal regions will see rainfall totals up to 20mm, around average for April.

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Been doing the 100 days of walking since Jan 1. Based in Dublin. Only one or two mornings has it being raining. I'm out at 7am each morning.

Last day tomorrow?

mcburns07 wrote: »

Last day tomorrow?

Yep it's been a quick 100 days feel the better for it

Could do with a dash of rain out west....

We had a good blast during the night up here in North Donegal.
Seems to be little during daytime hours.

Charles Babbage wrote: »

There was more rain during that Chelsea - Real Madrid game in Madrid than has fallen in Ireland in the whole month of April.

Its been quite a Wet April in Madrid. Around 100mm of rain has fallen there this month.

Also been a cold year there too. Think only 23c is their highest temperature of 2021.