In Ireland, everyone talks about the weather and if they don’t can we really call them Irish… Whether it’s discussing the direction of the rain from a supermarket doorway, or musing that it’s 75°F in March from a bar counter.
Irish weather can be unpredictable, so we like to discuss it. A lot and it is usually something we complain about. It’s Too Cold, It’s Too Warm, Its Beautiful & Most Of All Its Ours…
Ireland’s climate is influenced most by the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it doesn’t have the extreme temperatures that other countries at similar latitude would have. The average temperature is a mild 50°F.
A major warm ocean current called the North Atlantic Drift keeps sea temperatures mild too. Hills and mountains, mainly around the coast, shelter the rest of the island from strong winds coming off the ocean.
So while the weather can be changeable – it’s rarely extreme.
The seasons: spring and summer
In spring (February to April), the average highest temperatures range from 46 to 54°F, with April considered particularly pleasant. In summer (May to July), the averages for the highest temperatures are between 64 and 68°F.
The warmest months, July and August, get about 18 hours of daylight and it gets dark only after 11.00pm. Hence the well-worn phrase in Ireland; “sure there’s a grand stretch in the evenings”.
The seasons: autumn and winter
In autumn, (August to October) highest temperatures hit between 64 and 57°F. September is considered a mild, temperate month.
Winter air temperatures inland normally reach 46°F, while the coldest months are January and February. The temperature drops below freezing intermittently, and apart from a few freak cold snaps, snow is scarce.