FAQ

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Met Éireann Headquarters is located at Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Observing stations are in the following places:

• Aviation Services 
• Observing Stations

Anemometer: this instrument measures both the wind speed and direction.

Barometer: measures the atmospheric pressure.

Ceilometer: measures the base of the cloud height.

Hygrometer: measures the humidity of the air.

Rain-gauge: measures the amount of precipitation.

Sunshine recorder: measures the duration of sunshine.

Stevenson-screen: A type of wooden louvered rectangular box which houses maximum and minimum (centre) and wet and dry bulb thermometers.

• Anticyclone: Region of the atmosphere where the pressures are high relative to those in the surrounding region at the same level.
• Depression: Region of the atmosphere in which the pressures are lower than those of the surrounding region at the same level. This is the opposite of an Anticyclone.
• Cyclone:A severe type of tropical storm with very low atmospheric pressure at the centre and strong winds blowing around it.
• Gulf Stream: A current of warm surface ocean water in the North Atlantic flowing from the Gulf of Mexico towards northwest Europe. It has an important influence in maintaining relatively mild winters in Ireland.
• hectoPascal: Unit of pressure, equivalent to a Millibar.
• Isobar: Line joining points of equal pressure
• Isohyet: Line joining points of equal precipitation amount recorded during a specific period.
• Isotach: Line joining points of equal wind speed
• Isotherm: Line joining points of equal air temperature.

Check Recent Weather for yesterday’s weather and monthly data for the year so far.

Check the Climate section (30 year averages) for:

• Monthly mean Air Temperatures
• Mean Maximum and Minimum Air Temperatures
• Wind speeds
• Rainfall, Sunshine, Humidity and other climatological means and extremes

If you require more detailed information such as weather reports, expert opinion or detailed analyses, please contact our Climate and Observations Division.

A fee may apply for the provision of the above.

Climate refers to long-term records, trends and averages; what one would expect the weather to be like. This is usually determined by examining weather conditions over a long period of time. Weather is the day to day experience of what is actually happening at a particular time.

The Beaufort Scale was devised by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort in 1805/06. It is a way of estimating the wind strength according to the appearance of the sea (or on land, largely by the response of trees).

Direction

The direction of the wind is referred to by the points of the compass, from which the wind blows, for instance, northerly, south-easterly, westerly. An easterly wind is one that comes from the east. Winds are often described in terms of a change in direction. A northerly wind may be said to be veering east, or backing west. A backing wind is one that will move its direction back around the compass (anticlockwise). A wind that veers changes its direction clockwise around the compass points.

The wind’s direction is measured using a wind vane and can be recorded on a wind rose by shading a square, corresponding to the direction from which it blows.

Speed

An anemometer or ventimeter is used for measuring speed in kilometres or miles per hour. The faster the wind blows, the faster the cups on an anemometer spin, or the higher the disc rises inside a ventimeter. The Beaufort Scale is useful to indicate the strength of the wind. Wind instruments should be kept clear from walls, fences and houses, as these will interfere with the speed reading and the wind’s direction becomes difficult to ascertain.

Readings are taken hourly at all our weather stations. Wind direction and speed, dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures from which humidity is calculated, atmospheric pressure and tendency, cloud amounts and types and heights, visibility, the current or present weather during the hour and also weather that has occurred over the previous three hours, known as the past weather. The readings are coded and entered into a PC where they are quality controlled before being transmitted via modem to Glasnevin in Dublin.

A legal report for an insurance claim or similar needs to be specially prepared by one of the meteorologists in our Climate Enquiries office. You can see a sample report here and a list of our charges for this service is available here.

Met Éireann has two entry grades:

1. Meteorologist
2. Meteorological Officer

What kind of work does a Meteorologist do?

A Meteorologist is concerned with the assessment and analysis of weather information. Duties include investigation and research into the physical nature of the laws governing air movement, pressure, and temperature changes to determine the causes which bring about the various atmospheric conditions. Analysing and summarising weather data for the purpose of preparing weather maps and forecasting weather changes are also part of a Meteorologist duty.

What kind of work does a Meteorological Officer do?

A Meteorological Officer performs the basic technical duties in the Meteorological Service. These duties include the performance of weather observations, the care and maintenance of meteorological instrumentation and communications facilities, computer operations and computer programming.

Unfortunately we are not in a position at present to accept any students on work placement.

Here is a list of the weather symbols used by Met Éireann and their description

Day	Night	Description
		Sun/Clear sky
		Fair/Partly Cloudy
		Cloudy
		Light rain showers
		Rain showers
		Heavy rain showers
		Rain showers and thunder
		Sleet showers
		Snow showers
		Light rain/Drizzle
		Rain
		Heavy rain
		Heavy rain and thunder
		Sleet
		Snow
		Snow and thunder
		Fog/Mist/Haze/Freezing Fog
		Sleet showers and thunder
		Snow showers and thunder
		Rain and thunder
		Sleet and thunder
		Light rain showers and thunder
		Heavy rain showers and thunder
		Light sleet showers and thunder
		Heavy sleet showers and thunder
		Light snow showers and thunder
		Heavy snow showers and thunder
		Light rain and thunder and/or lightning
		Light sleet and thunder
		Heavy sleet and thunder
		Light snow and thunder
		Heavy snow and thunder
		Light rain showers
		Light sleet showers
		Heavy sleet showers/Freezing rain
		Light snow showers
		Heavy snow showers
		Light sleet
		Heavy sleet
		Light snow
		Heavy snow
		Light Hail Shower
		Heavy Hail Shower

Note: Some symbols are replicated for similar weather events