Ireland Average Temperature (IAT), Sunshine and Rainfall, Year 2010

[StratoQ]

At the end of the monthly weather summary table, we have calculated an Ireland Average Temperature (IAT), Ireland Average Rainfall (IAR) and Ireland Average Sunshine (IAS).

These averages are specially chosen and based on published data from three long term stations in Ireland - namely Armagh, Dublin and Valentia.  Taken together, these three stations give a reasonable representation of the island as a whole.

Many may already be familiar with the Central England Temperature (CET) series which is the longest running temperature series going back to the 17th century. The IAT series will be computed in a similar fashion. We hope to publish tables/charts for the IAT (and indeed IAS and IAR) going back well over 100 years. We will thus be able to compare our current climate with times long past and provide answers to questions such as the warmest/coldest/sunniest/driest years etc.

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[StratoQ]

Chart below shows the IAT anomalies per month for the full year 2010.
It was half a degree colder, slightly drier and sunnier than the 1961-1990 norm.

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[StratoQ]

After the September values put in, the IAT is now gone slightly postive for the year so far. This of course after such a cold start. Still probably a 50/50 the average temp this year will be below the 1961-1990 norm.

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[StratoQ]

Ive updated the tables up to November. At that stage we were slightly below the norm for temperature and rainfall but with above normal sunshine (in what has been a very sunny year so far).It's pretty clear from the graph that most of the negative anomalies are occuring now in the winter half of the year. Now who would complain about that - warmer summers and colder winters!

Of course it's odds on that the IAT will be very low for December - so it's almost certain now that the annual temperature will be at least 0.5 C below the norm for many stations (and well below that at the Dublin stations in particular).

It will be the coldest year since 1986 at nearly all stations.

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[Mothman]

I haven't looked at any annual stats for sunshine, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is the sunniest on record in places though July may have put a dent to those aspirations

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[StratoQ]

Yes MM. 2010 is the sunniest on record at:

Valentia Observatory (1892) - previous highest 1671 in 1911
Shannon Airport (1945) - previous highest 1557 in 1955
Belmullet (1956) - previous highest 1588 in 1968
Cork Airport (1962) - previous highest 1703 in 2001

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[Mothman]

  not just sunniest, but by a country mile! Despite a poor summer month or 2 in west they are very high totals.
1769 hrs here. Looks like today will not add it.
Previous highest in my 7 year record 1661h in 2006

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[Mothman]

SQ, do you have figure for highest recorded annual sunshine in Ireland?
I have 1996h in 1959 at Rosslare.
Also Sherkin Island is usually sunnier than the other western stations. Do you happen to have any comparative figures for Sherkin for this year?

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[StratoQ]

SQ, do you have figure for highest recorded annual sunshine in Ireland?
I have 1996h in 1959 at Rosslare.

Thats the record, I think.

Also Sherkin Island is usually sunnier than the other western stations. Do you happen to have any comparative figures for Sherkin for this year?

No I dont have anything for Sherkin or the Dublin stations.

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[Mothman]

I've gone through the monthly bulletins to the latest which is September. Sherkin Is has been sunniest of the stations listed in 6 of the 9 months and the total to end of Sep is 1642hrs.
It is possible that the 1996 hrs may be exceeded but I think more likely that about 320-330 hrs at Sherkin Is during last 3 months and so falling about 30hrs short.

The sunny South-east? well maybe there is a legitimate claim to to the sunnier South-west 

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[LaoisWeather]

Facts are facts though, but I cannot help but feel that 2010 has a dull summer,

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[CrowdedHouse]

Facts are facts though, but I cannot help but feel that 2010 has a dull summer,

+ 1...maybe d'aul brain cells are declining but I can't recall the year being particularly sunny

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[yoganmahew]

Facts are facts though, but I cannot help but feel that 2010 has a dull summer,

+ 1...maybe d'aul brain cells are declining but I can't recall the year being particularly sunny

Well, there were long spells of dry weather, but IIRC, lots of northerlies, NW, NE etc. So not feeling very warm. Perhaps it would be better to say that it wasn't as cloudy as usual?!

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[barmaher]

I thought the summer was very good, especially in comparison to the three previous efforts.

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[StratoQ]

Just updated the graphics for the full year 2010.

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