Met Eiréann reveal Westmeath broke its record for highest daily temp last summer

County Westmeath recorded its highest daily maximum temperature, for any month, on record last summer.

The county's weather station in Mullingar experienced its highest daily temperature on Monday, July 18, 2022 along with eight other stations including Dunsany, Co Meath and Shannon Airport, Co Clare. It reached 30.4°C in Mullingar last July.

Westmeath also has its wettest October on record with 208.8 mm of rainfall recorded in 2022. Seven stations had their wettest October on record which included Knock Airport, Co Mayo with 217.5 mm, Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon with 182.8 mm and Gurteen, Co Tipperary with 159.8 mm.

The all time highest maximum temperature records for July and August were broken in 2022 at Phoenix Park, Dublin on Monday, July 18 at 33°C which is 12.9°C above its 1981-2010 long-term average and Durrow, Co. Laois on Saturday, August 13 with 32.1°C.

The average temperature nationwide was 10.8°C which was1.3°C higher than average.

The latest Irish climate change projections indicate further warming in the future, drier summers on average and an increased chance of heatwaves and periods of drought. The Irish summer of 2022 is broadly consistent with projected future trends. While climate change projections also indicate a trend toward warmer winters, cold periods like those experienced this December cannot be ruled out in any particular year.

Keith Lambkin, the Head of Met Éireann’s Climate Services Division said: “Climate change has changed the odds of getting more frequent, more extreme heat related events. Thanks to over a century of dedicated weather observations here in Ireland, we know that 2022 brought us record-breaking extremes as well as what is likely to be the warmest year on Irish record. It is essential that we must continue to adapt to ensure our national infrastructures and planning are best suited to both current and future warming.”