Recent Octobers in Ireland:
- 2016: Nearly all stations reported below Long-Term Average (LTA) rainfall apart from some stations in the Kerry area. Nearly all stations were above their LTA for mean temperatures and sunshine values were variable.
- 2017: Below monthly LTA rainfall totals at most stations, all mean air temperatures were above average and sunshine totals were below average. Ex-Hurricane Ophelia brought violent storm force winds.
- 2018: All monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their LTA, most of the monthly mean temperatures were below average while all stations had above average sunshine totals. Storm Callum brought storm force winds.
- 2019: The majority of monthly rainfall totals were below their LTA, but it was wet in the South. Mean air temperatures were below everywhere and all stations had above average sunshine totals. Storm Lorenzo brought storm force winds.
- 2020: The majority of monthly rainfall totals were above their LTA, all mean air temperatures across the country were below average while all available sunshine totals were above their LTA. Storm Aiden brought storm force winds.
- 2021: The majority of monthly rainfall totals were above their LTA. All mean air temperatures across the country were above their LTA and all available sunshine totals were above average.
October 2022
Very mild and wet
October was a very mild and wet month, dominated by Atlantic low pressure systems, with the airflow mostly between southerly and westerly. The first half of the month saw low pressure to the north and northwest of Ireland, steering several Atlantic weather fronts across the country from the west and southwest, interspersed with sunny spells and showery periods. Active weather fronts brought widespread heavy rain on the 4th, 5th and 9th, with the bulk of the rain in the West. A semi stationary trough of low pressure stalled to the southwest of Ireland for the second half of the month. This steered up numerous active weather fronts and surface low pressure systems from the south and southwest, which brought widespread spells of heavy and often thundery rain, interspersed with bands of heavy and often thundery showers, with the South, East and Midlands worst affected during this period. Active fronts brought heavy rain on the 15th and 16th, with some flooding in the South. A deep area of low pressure to the southwest of Ireland, named storm Armand by Portuguese weather service, steered up a very warm and moist air mass from the southeast over Ireland, which brought some very active thunderstorm activity and heavy rain on the 19th, especially in the South and East. Active weather fronts brought widespread rain on the 22nd and 23rd, with further falls of heavy rain on the 28th and 31st, especially in the Midlands and South.
Rainfall: Above average everywhere
All rainfall totals were above their 1981-2010 Long-Term Average (LTA) for the month. Percentage of rainfall values ranged from 123% (the month’s lowest monthly rainfall total of 100.7 mm) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin (its wettest October since 2011) to 203% (monthly rainfall total of 230.4 mm) at Moore Park, Co Cork (its wettest October on record (length 58 years)). Monthly rainfall totals were as much as 255.9 mm (144% of its LTA) at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. The highest daily rainfall total was 54.9 mm at Cork Airport, Co Cork on Sunday 16th (its highest daily value for October since 1995). The number of rain days ranged from 20 days at both Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 30 days at Finner, Co Donegal. The number of wet days ranged from 16 days at several stations to 26 days at three stations. The number of very wet days ranged from 2 days at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 10 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. Along with Moore Park, six other stations had their wettest October on record. These were Knock Airport, Co Mayo with 217.5 mm (record length 25 years), Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon with 182.8 mm (length 18 years), Gurteen, Co Tipperary with 159.8 mm (length 14 years), Mullingar, Co Westmeath with 208.8 mm (length 72 years), Ballyhaise, Co Cavan with 205.2 (length 7 years) and Mace Head, Co Galway with 209.3 mm (length 14 years).
Rainfall Graphs for October 2022. To enlarge click Rainfall Graph here
Temperature: Above average everywhere
All mean air temperatures across the country were above their LTA for the month. Deviations from mean air temperature ranged from 1.2 °C (11.9 °C mean temperature) at Malin Head, Co Donegal to 2.2 °C at both Dunsany, Co Meath and Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin (11.8 °C and 12.2 °C mean temperature respectively). Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 10.5 °C (1.6 °C above its LTA) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 13.3 °C at both Sherkin Island, Co Cork (1.3 °C above its LTA) and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry (1.7 °C above its LTA). The month’s highest temperature was reported at Shannon Airport, Co Clare on Monday 3rd with a temperature of 19.5 °C. The lowest air minimum was -0.3 °C reported at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon on Tuesday 18th, while the lowest grass minimum was –3.3 °C reported at both Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon and Dublin Airport, Co Dublin on Tuesday 18th. Less than half of the stations reported ground frost. The number of days with ground frost ranged from zero days at some stations to 9 days at Oak Park, Co Carlow. One station reported air frost. The number of days with air frost ranged from zero days at most stations to 1 day at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon on Tuesday 18th. Four stations had their warmest October since 1995, four stations had their warmest October since 2001 and five stations had their warmest October on record (record lengths ranging between 11 and 18 years).
Temperature Graphs for October 2022. To enlarge click Temp Graph here
Sunshine: Sunny in the East, dull in the North and Southwest
Percentage of LTA sunshine values were variable (where available) across the country. Percentage of monthly sunshine values ranged from 97% (monthly sunshine total of 88.3 hours) at Shannon Airport, Co Clare to 125% (the months highest monthly sunshine total of 127.4 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin. Monthly sunshine totals were lowest at Malin Head, Co Donegal with 71.6 hours (no LTA comparison*). The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this month was 9.7 hours at Cork Airport, Co Cork on Monday 17th. The number of dull days ranged from 6 days at a few stations to 13 days at Cork Airport, Co Cork.
Wind: Strong gales reported
Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h) at Moore Park, Co Cork to 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h) at Mace Head, Co Galway. Gales were reported on 11 days during the month with up to strong gale winds reported on Monday 17th, Wednesday 19th and Wednesday 26th. The number of days with gales ranged from zero days at a few stations to 6 days at Mace Head, Co Galway. The number of days with up to strong gales ranged from zero at most stations to 1 day at Roches Point, Co Cork, Malin Head, Co Donegal and Mace Head, Co Galway. Both the month’s highest gust and 10-minute mean wind speed was reported at Mace Head, Co Galway on Wednesday 26th. The highest gust was 61 knots (113 km/h) while the month’s highest 10-minute mean wind speed was 42 knots (78 km/h).
Wind rosed for October 2022. To enlarge click Wind Roses here
Extreme values at synoptic stations
The full report is available here