DUBLIN RESIDENTS enjoyed almost 50 per cent more sunshine than inhabitants of Co Mayo during October, a month Met Éireann figures indicate was warmer than usual across Ireland.
The highest sunshine levels were recorded at Dublin airport weather station, at some 90 hours, with just 61 hours registered at the Knock airport station in Co Mayo.
The highest amount of sunshine in a single day, 9.7 hours, was recorded at Shannon airport on October 14th. But forecasters said it was a dull month overall.
“Sunshine totals were below normal except in western areas and it was the dullest October for between 12 and 14 years in many places.” The data indicates the average temperatures recorded at the State’s 10 weather stations in October were at least 1 degree warmer than in previous years.
Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry recorded the largest temperature increase, 1.6 degrees above average, while Casement Aerodome in Dublin showed the smallest increase, at just 1 degree above the norm.
A mean average temperature of 13.1 degrees also made Valentia Observatory the warmest of the weather stations during the month. While Knock, at 10.1 degrees, was the coolest.
Mullingar was the only place where an air frost was recorded, with temperatures at the Co Westmeath station dropping to -0.7 degrees on October 7th.
In spite of its position at the top of the temperature charts, Valentia Observatory recorded the highest rainfall levels at 205mm. The lowest total rainfall, 63mm, was recorded at Dublin airport and the single largest daily fall, 44.3mm, came at Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford.
