Mild, wet and sunny
October 2026 was provisionally the 6th consecutive October with an above average national temperature, recording a national mean of 11.41 °C, 0.62 °C above the 1991-2020 Long Term Average (LTA). It also marks the 9th consecutive month, beginning in February 2026, with temperatures above the 1991-2020 LTA. Overall, it was a mild and wet October with Atlantic low pressure dominating. The month recorded two storms, Storm Austen on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd, closely followed by Storm Boelo on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th.
Key National Figures:
- The national mean October temperature was 11.41 °C, ranking as the 28th mildest October on record since 1900.
- 11.41 °C is 0.82 °C above the 1961-1990 LTA and 0.62 °C above the most recent climatological standard period 1991-2020.
- October 2026 was the 9th consecutive month, starting in February, with temperatures above the 1991-2020 LTA.
- October 2026 recorded 155.3 mm, 120% of the 1991-2020 LTA, making it the 24th wettest October on record since 1941.
- Of the ten wettest Octobers, four have occurred since 2001 (highest first: 2022, 2002, 2023, 2008). Of the ten driest Octobers, three have occurred since 2001 (lowest first: 2016, 2003, 2007).
October 2026 Climate Statement highlights.
October 2026 was milder and wetter than average with Atlantic low pressure dominating for most of the month. The first two weeks saw low pressure to the north and high pressure to the south in a mostly mild southerly to westerly airflow. Low pressure to the north steered several frontal rain bands across the country from the west bringing rain or showers at times, heaviest in the West. High pressure to the south brought drier interludes with pleasant autumnal sunshine at times.
The third week saw high pressure moving over the country from the southwest, becoming dominant between Friday 16th and Monday 19th. This brought mostly dry conditions with sunny spells, but with a cooler airmass, resulting in the first air frost of the season for Ireland on Saturday 17th. As the high pressure pulled away towards Scandinavia, slow moving weather fronts moved in over the country on Tuesday 20th, marking the beginning of a very wet and windy period during the fourth week where the North Atlantic jet stream pushed south and steered several vigorous low pressure systems towards northwest Europe along with the first two named storms of the season.
Storm Austen, named by the Met Office (UK), passed to the south and brought wet and windy weather, especially to the South and East on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd. Storm Boelo, named by the Met Office (UK), passed to the north and brought wet and windy weather, especially to the North and West on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th. Another deep depression passed to the north and brought further wet and windy weather across the country on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th. The month finished calmer and drier as high pressure to the south and east gradually took control.
Rainfall: Above average in most places, wettest in the Northwest
The majority of monthly rainfall totals were above their 1991-2020 Long-Term Average (LTA). Percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 90% (the month’s lowest monthly rainfall total of 83.4 mm) at Oak Park, Co Carlow to 157 % (the month’s highest monthly rainfall total of 242.1 mm) at Newport, Co Mayo (its wettest October since 2021). The highest daily rainfall total was 43.2 mm at Roches Point, Co Cork on Thursday 22nd during storm Austen. The number of rain days* ranged from 16 days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 28 days at both Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry and Cork Airport, Co Cork. The number of wet days* ranged from 12 days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 24 days at both Claremorris, Co Mayo and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. The number of very wet days* ranged from 2 days at a few stations to 11 days at Newport, Co Mayo.
Total Monthly Rainfall (mm) for October 2026 (Provisional). Rainfall % of 1991 – 2020 Monthly Average for October 2026 (Provisional).
Temperature: Above average everywhere, warmest in the South and East
All mean air temperatures across the country were above their LTA for the month. Deviations from mean air temperature for the month ranged from 0.3 °C (11.4 °C) at Newport, Co Mayo to 1.2 °C (11.4 °C) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin. Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 9.9 °C (0.7 °C above its LTA) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 12.7 °C (0.7 °C above its LTA) at Sherkin Island, Co Cork. The month’s highest temperature was reported at Moore Park, Co Cork on Monday 5th with a temperature of 22.1 °C (its highest daily max for October on record (length 46 years)). The month’s lowest air minimum was recorded on Monday 19th at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon with -2.5 °C while the lowest grass minimum was -6.5 °C reported at both Gurteen, Co Tipperary and Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon, also on Monday 19th. More than half of stations reported ground frost. The number of days with ground frost ranged from zero days at Sherkin Island, Co Cork to 10 days at both Athenry, Co Galway and Claremorris, Co Mayo. Less than half of stations reported air frost. The number of days with air frost ranged from zero days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 3 days at a few stations. 15 stations had their coolest October since 2020.
Mean Temperature (°C) for October 2026 (Provisional). Difference from 1991-2020 LTA (°C) for October 2026 (Provisional)
Sunshine: Above average sunshine for most, especially in the East
Nearly all available sunshine totals were above their LTA. Percentage of monthly sunshine values ranged from 100% (93.8 hours) at Shannon Airport, Co Clare to 135% (137.5 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin (its sunniest October on record (length 62 years)). Monthly sunshine totals ranged from 75.8 hours (No LTA comparison*) at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry to 137.8 hours (No LTA comparison*) at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin (its sunniest October since 1955). The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this month was 10.1 hours at Cork Airport, Co Cork on Saturday 17th. The number of dull days* ranged from 3 days at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 13 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.
Hours of Bright Sunshine observed at nine stations for each day of the month of October 2026, grouped by province relative to the highest number of hours possible by end of month (shaded box).
Wind: Storm force winds were reported during storm Boelo, storm Austen brought strong gales
Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 6.0 knots (11.1 km/h) at Moore Park, Co Cork to 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h) at Mace Head, Co Galway (Its highest mean wind for October on record (length 18 years)). Gales were reported on 13 days during the month with strong gales reported on Wednesday 14th, Tuesday 20th, Friday 23rd during storm Austen, Saturday 24th during storm Boelo, Sunday 25th during storm Boelo and Tuesday 27th. Mean wind speeds reached storm force on Saturday 24th at three stations and Sunday 25th at two stations during storm Boelo. The number of days with gales ranged from zero days at a few stations to 9 days at Mace Head, Co Galway. The number of days with up to strong gales ranged from zero days at most stations to 4 days at Mace Head, Co Galway. Storm Boelo brought storm force winds on Saturday 24th at Mace Head, Malin Head and Finner and on Sunday 25th at Malin Head and Finner. Both the month’s highest gust and 10-minute mean wind speeds were reported at Malin Head, Co Donegal. The highest gust of 73 knots (135 km/h) was reported on two days, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th while the month’s highest 10-minute mean wind speed of 56 knots (104 km/h) was reported on Saturday 24th.
Airmass Analysis chart 06 UTC 24 October 2026: Storm Austen had moved to the east over the North Sea and weakened, while storm Boelo was repidly deepening approaching northern Scotland.
Full PDF report and charts are available here
Extreme values for October 2026 at synoptic stations.
Notes to Editor:
- *Issued by Met Éireann on Tuesday 3rd November 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.
- Overnight highest minimum temperatures and tropical nights are measured 9am to 9am (09-09) according to WMO standards. A tropical night is the count of days when the daily minimum temperature, is greater than 20 °C (09-09).
- 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 is less than or equal to 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).
- 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 or interview opportunities with a Met Éireann spokesperson, please contact us at enq@met.ie.