Met Éireann data reveals 2023 as the warmest year on record for Ireland’s

2023 was the warmest year on record for Ireland, according to new data revealed by Met Éireann.

Provisional State of the Irish Climate Report 2023 also shows that the annual average temperature rose above 11 degrees for the first time since the record length 124 years ago.

2022 was the previous warmest year on record at nearly 10.9 degrees, narrowly beating 2007 by just 0.1 degrees. 

The warmest month of the year was June, followed by March and July, which were the wettest. 

For the first time in 23 years, four months of the year were within their top 5 warmest months on record - the average stays between one and two months every year since 2000.

Keith Lambkin, Head of Climate Services at Met Éireann, said: “Ireland has seen a remarkable year with rainfall and warming at unprecedented levels at times. These record-breaking extremes have knock-on consequences to much of society.”

June was the warmest month on record, with temperatures above 16 degrees on average. In addition, significant flooding during Storm Betty occurred in August. 

September was the 3rd warmest month with rare heatwaves and the highest temperature of the year, 29.1 degrees, on Friday, September 8, at Lullymore Nature Centre, Co Kildare.

Cork Airport recorded its highest October rainfall, 222% of October’s 1981-2020 long-term average. 

Keith added: “Past weather events are no longer a reliable indicator of future weather events, but knowing this allows us to better plan and adapt to our changing climate.”