August saw end of 66-day partial drought in Co Carlow

August marked the end of a 66-day partial drought in County Carlow, according to Met Éireann’s climate statement for the month. The drought, which affected Oak Park in the county, concluded on 24 August after beginning on 20 June. This duration surpassed the previous record of 62 days set in Roches Point, Co Cork, during the summer of 1983. A partial drought is defined as a period of at least 29 consecutive days where the mean daily rainfall does not exceed 0.2mm. The prolonged dry spell was part of a broader pattern of unusually warm and drier conditions across Ireland. August 2026 was described as “notably warm and drier than average for most of the month” by Met Éireann. National mean air temperatures exceeded long-term averages from 1991 to 2020, with an overall average of 16.27°C, making it the 9th warmest August on record since 1900. This temperature was approximately 1°C higher than the long-term average. Several weather stations recorded historic highs during the month. On 12 August, four stations broke their August maximum temperature records. Casement Aerodrome in Dublin reached 31.2°C, setting a new all-time August high for the city. Phoenix Park in Dublin followed with 30.9°C, while Dunsany in Co Meath hit 30.5°C and Gurteen in Co Tipperary recorded 29.3°C. Additionally, ten stations set new records for the highest August daily minimum temperatures between 12 and 14 August. Despite these extreme heat conditions, rainfall remained below average. August 2026 ranked as the 28th driest on record, with a total of 86mm of rain. This amount represents 84% of the long-term average for the month. Historical rainfall figures for August range from 11.8mm in 1976 to 126.5mm in 1985. The lack of precipitation contributed to the extended drought in parts of the country. However, a shift in weather patterns occurred toward the end of the month. A period of low pressure in the third week of August introduced cooler, cloudier, and wetter conditions. This contrasted with the dominant high-pressure system that had characterized much of the month. Met Éireann noted that this transition brought “the first appreciable rainfall for over two months to parts of the Southeast.” While the rain was welcomed in some areas, it did not fully alleviate the ongoing dry conditions. Rainfall distribution varied significantly across the country. The number of rain days, defined as days with at least 0.2mm of rainfall, ranged from 11 days at Roches Point in Co Cork to 23 days at Belmullet and Knock Airport in Mayo. Wet days, which require at least 1.0mm of rainfall, ranged from eight days at Moore Park in Co Cork to 19 days at both Newport and Belmullet in Co Mayo. Some locations, however, recorded zero very wet days, defined as days with 10.0mm or more of rainfall, indicating minimal heavy downpours throughout the month. The end of the partial drought in Co Carlow marks a significant climatic event, highlighting the variability of weather patterns in recent years. As the country continues to experience shifts in seasonal norms, such extremes underscore the importance of monitoring and adapting to changing environmental conditions.