Many weather stations record coolest autumn in 20 years

This autumn was cold, sunny and surprisingly dry. Only a blustery November kept the rainfall totals close to long-term averages.

Met Éireann released its autumn summary yesterday and its summary for November. The later months of 2012 were consistently cooler than normal, with many stations reporting the coolest autumn in almost 20 years.

The first few days of September saw temperature reach 23.1 degrees at Shannon Airport, but these highs failed to push up average temperatures for the autumn. The lowest autumn temperature of minus 4.5 degrees was recorded at Markree, Co Sligo, on November 25th.

Rainfall totals were mainly below normal except for in Dublin, Ulster and parts of the west.

Roches Point saw only 58 per cent of normal rainfall. Many stations recorded their lowest daily rainfalls, with Belmullet showing the lowest figures since records began.

Many stations also had above average sunshine totals.

November had above average rain in the south, west and south Dublin. Temperatures were below normal at most stations.

Briefs