Annual Climate Statement for 2025

Second warmest year on record with above average rainfall for most

2025 was the second warmest year on record in Ireland since 1900 with the last four years now the top four warmest years on record (2022-2025). In January, the year began cool with snow in places before Storm Éowyn brought the highest winds ever recorded (hurricane force). Winter finished warm overall and was followed by the warmest and sunniest spring on record and the warmest summer on record. A mobile Atlantic regime led to the 4th wettest autumn on record.

• The average annual air temperature for Ireland in 2025 (using the Island of Ireland dataset*) was 11.14 °C, which is 1.59°C above the 1961-1990 long-term average (LTA) or 0.97°C above the most recent 1991-2020 LTA.
• This makes 2025 the second warmest year on record, which is only slightly behind the warmest year in 2023 (11.21 °C) and only the second time with a mean over 11 °C.
• The last 4 years (2022-2025) are now the 4 warmest years on record with 2024 tying 2007 for 4^th warmest, and seven of the top ten warmest years have occurred since 2005.
• The coldest year on record was in 1919 with 8.73 °C, of the top ten coldest years – none have occurred since 2000.
• Provisionally rainfall data suggests 2025 was the 15th wettest year since 1941,  104% of the 1991-2020 LTA, with observed average of 1,338.7 mm.

2025 Climate Statistics

January was cool and sunny. It was dry in the North and West and wet in the South and East. An Arctic airmass brought snow in the South and West early in the month while storm Éowyn brought hurricane force winds and new wind speed records for Ireland towards the end of the month. February was mild. It was wet in the South but drier in the North. Blocking high pressure over Scandinavia brought a period of easterly winds mid-month before Atlantic westerlies took control for the final part of the month.

March was mild, dry and sunny with high pressure dominating through most of the month. April was warm and sunny with record high daily maximum temperatures for April. It was dry for the first half of the month and wet for the second half. May was warm, dry, calm and sunny. Blocking high pressure to the north of Ireland dominated through most of the month.

June was very warm after a cool start. Low pressure to the north brought a lot of cloud with above average rainfall for most places apart from the South where continental high pressure kept it drier. July was warm with variable rainfall. High pressure to the south and low pressure to the north brought a predominantly westerly airflow. A hot spell towards mid-month led to the highest temperatures of the year. August was very warm. It was wet in parts of the West but dry elsewhere. High pressure dominated through most of the month. Storm Floris brought strong gales early in the month.

September was cool and wet and the start of an extended period of mobile Atlantic dominated weather. Ireland mostly lay on the cooler northern side of the jet stream with low pressure in control. October was mild, dull and wet overall. Atlantic low pressure brought a lot of rain either side of a high pressure dominated period mid-month. Storm Amy brought violent storm force winds early in the month. November was the wettest month of the year. Atlantic low pressure dominance continued. Storm Claudia stalled to the southwest mid-month and fed numerous active weather fronts over the country.

December was mixed with Atlantic low pressure bringing a lot of rain for most of the month including storm Bram, before high pressure took control and brought a dry finish to the year.

Rainfall: Above average at most stations, driest compared to average in the Northwest

The majority of annual rainfall totals were above their 1991-2020 Long-Term Average (LTA). The first eight months of the year were relatively dry but the last four months were much wetter.

Percentage of annual rainfall values ranged from 86% (983.2 mm) at Malin Head, Co Donegal to 124% (1322.9 mm) at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford (its second wettest year on record). Annual rainfall totals ranged from 804.2 mm (104% of its LTA) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 1809.4 mm (110% of its LTA) at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.

The highest daily rainfall total was 66.9 mm at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford on Friday 14th November (associated with storm Claudia). The number of rain days* ranged from 184 days at Dublin Airport to 258 days at Newport, Co Mayo. The number of wet days* ranged from 134 days at both Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 216 days at Newport, Co Mayo. The number of very wet days* ranged from 20 days at both Phoenix Park and Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 66 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.

There were 64 separate climatological dry periods* observed in Ireland during 2025 at synoptic stations between Monday 6th January 2025 and Sunday 24th August 2025. Of these 42 were dry spells* at 22 stations, 18 were absolute droughts* at 16 stations and 4 were partial droughts* at four stations.

Provisional monthly gridded 2025 rainfall anomalies (% of 1991-2020) together with monthly rainfall totals

Temperature: Most stations had their second warmest or joint warmest year on record

All mean air temperatures across the country were above their annual LTA with all 25 stations in the top three warmest years on record. Fourteen stations had their second warmest year, while eight stations had their joint warmest year on record 2025.

Deviations from mean air temperature for the year ranged from +0.8 °C at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, Belmullet, Co Mayo, Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, Sherkin Island, Co Cork and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry (10.4 °C, 11.3 °C, 11.1 °C, 11.9 °C and 11.8 °C mean temperatures respectively) to +1.1 °C at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin, Phoenix Park, Co Dublin and Knock Airport, Co Mayo (10.8 °C, 11.1 °C and 9.9 °C mean temperatures respectively). Mean temperatures for the year ranged from 9.9 °C (1.1 °C above its LTA) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 11.9 °C (0.8 °C above its LTA) at Sherkin Island, Co Cork.

The lowest temperatures of the year were recorded on Thursday 9th January. The lowest daily air minimum was reported at Athenry, Co Galway with a temperature of -7.6 °C, while the lowest grass minimum was -11.8 °C reported at Mullingar, Co Westmeath. The highest daily maximum temperature of the year at a synoptic station was reported on Saturday 12th July at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon with a temperature of 31.1 °C (The highest temperature of the year including all other official Met Éireann stations was 32.2 °C, reported at Connemara National Park on Sunday 13th July). 

All stations reported air and ground frost during the year. The number of days with ground frost ranged from 32 days at Sherkin Island, Co Cork to 135 days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin. The number of days with air frost ranged from 1 day at a few stations to 45 days at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon.

Provisional top 10 warmest years in Ireland since 1900 from the Island of Ireland dataset* long-term temperature series (°C)

Sunshine: Very sunny overall, sunniest in the East and South

All available sunshine totals were above their LTA. Percentage of annual sunshine values ranged from 118% (1662.5 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin to 119% (1600.2 hours) at  Shannon Airport, Co Clare. Annual sunshine totals ranged from 1348.0 hours (no LTA comparison*) at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry to 1721.4 hours (no LTA comparison*) at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford.

The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this year was 15.7 hours at Malin Head, Co Donegal on Saturday 12th July. The number of dull days* ranged from 26 days at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 105 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.

Wind: Five named storms directly affected Ireland, record breaking hurricane force winds reported during storm Éowyn

Annual mean wind speeds ranged from 10.9 km/h (5.9 knots) at numerous stations to 26.9 km/h (14.5 knots) at Mace Head, Co Galway. There were numerous days with gales. Strong gales were reported on Sunday 23rd February, Monday 4th August during storm Floris, Sunday 14th and Monday 15th September, Thursday 30th October, Sunday 23rd and Thursday 27th November and Tuesday 9th December during storm Bram. Mean winds reached storm force on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th January during storm Éowyn and Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th October during storm Amy.

Mean wind speeds reached violent storm force 11 at Knock Airport, Co Mayo, Mace Head, Co Galway, Finner, Co Donegal and Malin Head, Co Donegal on Friday 24th January during storm Éowyn and at Malin Head, Co Donegal on Friday 3rd October during storm Amy. Mean wind speeds reached hurricane force 12 at Malin Head, Co Donegal and Mace Head, Co Galway on Friday 24th January during storm Éowyn.

The number of days with up to strong gales ranged from zero days at a few stations to 8 days at Mace Head, Co Galway. The number of days with storm force winds were up to 3 days at Mace Head, Co Galway. Both the year’s highest gust and 10-minute mean wind speed were reported at Mace Head, Co Galway on Friday 24th January during storm Éowyn. The highest gust was 184 km/h (99.5 knots) while the year’s highest 10-minute mean wind speed was 142 km/h (76.5 knots) (Ireland’s highest provisional (sustained and gust) wind speeds in the digital climate record).

The full report is available here (select ‘Year’ in drop down menu)

2025 extreme values at synoptic stations

Station records and monthly extremes in 2025:

Rainfall:

• An Arctic airmass in early January brought snow in places while Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford had its wettest January since 1998.
• Cork Airport, Co Cork saw its 7^th wettest February on record (length 64 years)) with above average rainfall for Ireland at 119 % of the 1991-2020 LTA.
• March was very dry with only 39% of the 1991-2020 average . Dunsany, Co Meath and Mace Head, Co Galway had their driest March on record (length 61 and 20 years).
• Ballyhaise, Co Cavan had its driest March since 1953, Gurteen, Co Tipperary had its driest March since 1961 and Dublin Airport had its driest March since 1990.
• Knock Airport, Co Mayo, Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon and Gurteen, Co Tipperary had their wettest April day on record on Friday 18^th (record lengths between 17 and 28 years). April finished with 113% of the 1991-2020 LTA. 
• Six stations, mostly in the East, had dry spells* between March 28^th and April 14^th lasting between 15 and 18 days.
• Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin, had a partial drought* lasting 29 days ending on 12^th April.
• There were numerous climatological dry periods* ending in May. Twenty stations had dry spells*lasting between 15 and 27 days. Eleven stations had absolute droughts* lasting between 15 and 25. Two stations observed partial droughts* lasting 30 days (Moore Park, Co Cork and Roches Point, Co Cork). May finished with 71% of the 1991-2020 LTA. 
• June saw above average rainfall with 117% of its 1990-2020 LTA.
• July saw above average rainfall with 103% of its 1990-2020 LTA.
• August saw below average rainfall with 75% of its 1990-2020 LTA.
• September began a run of wet months with 142% of its 1991-2020 LTA, making it the 18th wettest September since 1940. Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry had its wettest September since 2006.
• October saw above average rainfall with 123% of its 1990-2020 LTA. Three stations had their wettest October day on record on Thursday 2^nd.
• November was the wettest month of the year and the 5^th wettest November on record with 136% of its 1991-2020 LTA. Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford had its wettest November on record (length 84 years). Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford also had the wettest day of the year on Friday 14^th November (66.9 mm), associated with storm Claudia.
• Autumn 2025 was the 4th wettest autumn on record since 1941.
• December saw near average rainfall with 97% of its 1990-2020 LTA.

Temperatures:

• Nine stations reported an icing day* on Wednesday 8^th January while Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford had their lowest January minimum temperature since 2010.
• It was the 16^th warmest February on record (length 126 years).
• It was the 8^th warmest March on record. Thirteen stations had their warmest March since 2012 and twelve stations had their warmest March since 2017.
• It was the 3^rd warmest April on record overall with Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry, Belmullet, Co Mayo and Knock Airport, Co Mayo all having their joint warmest April on record, tying with 2011 (record lengths between 28 and 85 years).
• Seventeen stations reported their highest daily maximum temperature for April on record, all on Wednesday 30^th, including Athenry, Co Galway which recorded the highest April maximum temperature on record for Ireland with a temperature of 25.9 °C.
• It was the 6^th warmest May on record with five stations in the South and West having their warmest May on record.
• A marine heatwave developed off the west coast of Ireland through April and May with sea surface temperatures reaching over 2°C warmer than average in some coastal areas, and up to 4°C warmer than average in offshore areas.
• Spring 2025 was the warmest on record for Ireland with 23 of 25 stations having their warmest spring on record.
• It was the 4^th warmest June on record for Ireland.
• Phoenix Park, Co Dublin and Oak Park, Co Carlow reported record high all-calendar-month minimum temperatures, while Dublin Airport, Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin, Dunsany, Co Meath and Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford reported record high minimum temperatures for June.
• It was the 9th warmest July on record for Ireland. The hottest spell of the year occurred just before mid-month where several stations reached over 30 °C and the highest temperature of the year was reported at Connemara National Park, with 32.2 °C on Sunday 13th July.
• It was the 4th warmest August on record for Ireland and the warmest overall month of 2025. Six stations had their warmest August on record, and seven long standing stations had their warmest August since 1995.
• Summer 2025 was the warmest on record for Ireland with 5 stations having their warmest summer on record and five other stations having their warmest summer since 1995.
• September was cooler than average, ending the run of very war months between February and August.
• It was the 24th warmest October on record for Ireland.
• It was the 21st warmest November on record for Ireland.
• It was the 24th warmest December on record for Ireland. Twelve stations broke their maximum daily temperature records for December on Tuesday 9^th as storm Bram passed by.

Sunshine:

• Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin had its sunniest January on record (length 61 years).
• In February Dublin Airport, Co Dublin saw 11 consecutive days without sunshine (0.0 hours) between Saturday 8th and Tuesday 18^th, which ties the record for consecutive sunless days at Dublin Airport (previously occurred in March 1969).
• Malin Head, Co Donegal saw its highest monthly sunshine total for April on record (length 68 years) while Dublin Airport saw its highest daily sunshine for April on record on Wednesday 30th (length 83 years)).
• Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Cork Airport, Co Cork and Belmullet, Co Mayo had their sunniest calendar month and May on record (record lengths 79 years, 63 years and 68 years respectively). Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry had its sunniest May since May 1961. Casement Aerodrome and Dublin Airport their second sunniest May behind 2020.
• It was the sunniest Spring on record for Ireland.

Wind:

• In January, storm Éowyn brought hurricane force winds and new wind speed records for Ireland. The highest gust was 99.5 knots (184 km/h) while the highest 10-minute mean wind speed was 76.5 knots (142 km/h), both recorded at Mace Head, Co Galway on Friday 24^th.
• Four stations broke their highest gust records during storm Éowyn and four stations broke their highest 10-minute mean wind speed record.
• Two stations reached hurricane force 12 on the Beaufort wind scale during storm Éowyn, four stations reached violent storm force 11 and eight station reached storm force 10.
• In August, storm Floris brought strong gales early in the month.
• Storm Amy brought violent storm force winds early in October with five stations recording their highest 10-minute mean wind speeds on record for October.
• Storm Bram brought strong gales on Tuesday 9^th December.

Climate Change Context

Ireland’s overall warming continues in line with the global warming trend. Seven of the top ten warmest years in Ireland have occurred since 2005, with 2025 the second warmest year on record. Another marine heatwave earlier in 2025 and generally higher than average sea surface temperatures (SST) around our coasts and across the North Atlantic have contributed to higher than average mean temperatures and increased moisture content in the atmosphere over Ireland. Although 2025 was relatively dry up to August, the last four months have been very wet with numerous heavy rainfall events leading to widespread coastal and river flooding events.

Climatologist Paul Moore said: “The warming trend is very clear with the last four years being the warmest four years on record in Ireland, since 1900. 2025 saw not only our warmest spring, but also our warmest summer on record, with high nighttime temperatures contributing to the summer record. We experienced five named storms in 2025, as well as a number of impactful rain events. The continued warming brings with it the increasing risk of severe weather events.”

The latest Irish climate change projections indicate further warming in the future. This temperature change means the likelihood of extreme weather events occurring has increased. Irish rainfall patterns are expected to change, with an increase in both dry periods and heavy rainfall events. Global sea levels continues to rise. As a result, storm surge and coastal flooding risk around Irish coasts is expected to increase along with ‘compound events’ involving a combination of heavy rainfall and high tides. Climate change is adding fuel to storms due to warmer waters and more moisture in the atmosphere and studies show that storms we’ve experienced in the past (e.g. Ophelia) will become more powerful, larger, and more destructive in a warmer world.

*Issued by Met Éireann on Tuesday 6th January 2026. This report is based on available preliminary data from 25 principal weather stations operated by Met Éireann. Synoptic station data is midnight to midnight UTC. Long-Term Averages (LTAs) and “average” refer to the period 1991-2020 unless stated. A rain day is a day on which 0.2 mm or more of rainfall is measured. A wet day is a day with 1.0 mm or more of rainfall. A dull day is a day with less than 0.5 hours of sunshine. A very wet day is a day with 10.0 mm or more of rainfall. Climatological dry periods – An absolute drought is a period of 15 or more consecutive days to none of which is credited 0.2 mm or more of precipitation. A partial drought is a period of at least 29 consecutive days, the mean daily rainfall of which does not exceed 0.2 mm. A dry spell is a period of 15 or more consecutive days to none of which is credited 1.0 mm or more of precipitation (i.e. daily tot < 1.0 mm). A heatwave occurs where there are 5 consecutive days or more with maximum temperature over 25°C (that is, a daily maximum screen air temperature > 25° C). An icing day occurs at a station when the daily maximum air temperature falls below 0°C. The ‘Island of Ireland’ dataset is 125 years long and runs between 1900 and 2023. For this dataset the long term averages from the 1961-1990 reference period are used for comparison as is standard for long-term climate change assessments. *Sunshine data is from the Autosol Network. LTAs for these sites are currently not used for comparison purposes. For more information, contact Met Éireann at 01-8064200 or e-mail: enq@met.ie