Weather Observing Stations

MALIN HEAD
Location:
55°22'20" N
7°20'20" W.
22M above mean sea level
Malin Head synoptic weather station is situated at the most northerly point on the island of Ireland, at the top of the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal. The nearest town is Carndonagh, which is 19 Km south southeast of the station.

History:
The present buildings were constructed in 1955, when regular hourly weather observations commenced by Irish Meteorological Service personnel. However, the station records go back to 1885. Personnel employed by Lloyd's Insurance Company, who manned and operated a local coastal signal station, were first to prepare and transmit regular weather reports. Coastguard officers continued this work until the early twenties. From the 1920's to 1955 a local family was contracted to provide climate data and at least one weather report each day.

The weather element which distinguishes Malin Head from the other stations throughout the country is wind speed. Storm force 12 winds are recorded at the station during most years. The highest measured gust to date is 98 knots, recorded on 16th September 1961 when the remnants of "Hurricane Debbie" swept up along the west coast of Ireland causing widespread damage in this part of the country.

The manual weather station at Malin Head was officially closed on December 31, 2009 and was replaced by an Automatic Weather Station at the same location from January 1, 2010.