This month will be noted as the hottest June on record for Ireland.
Met Éireann has announced that June 2023 has broken the previous record that was set 83 years ago. This past month is set to be more than half a degree higher than temperatures in June 1940.
Provisional data shows that Ireland has experienced its first-ever June with 16+°C average temperatures.
The highest temperature of 2023 so far, 28.8°C, was reported at Oak Park in Co. Carlow on Tuesday, June 13. This marks the third consecutive year that a temperature at or above this value has been observed in Ireland.
Met Éireann’s Climatologist, Paul Moore released a statement on these record-breaking figures.
“Although temperatures have fallen in recent days, they will not prevent this June’s record-breaking situation. This year’s particularly warm June is part of an observed warming trend and our research shows that this trend will continue”.
“Our recently published TRANSLATE project provides a reminder that right across society we need to understand and plan for a changing climate”.
He continued, "An average monthly temperature of greater than 16°C has been seen in July and August but never before in June. June 2023 was well above normal due to persistent warm days and nights".
"Twenty-three of twenty-five Met Éireann primary weather stations are showing their warmest June on record. In early June, cool easterly winds on the east coast meant that Phoenix Park and Dublin Airport stations were cooler but they still show their warmest June since 1976".
These never-before-seen temperatures are more likely now due to climate change, and a recent marine heatwave off the coast of Ireland has brought extreme sea-surface temperatures to Irish shores.
Met Éireann researcher Dr. Pádraig Flattery explains, "As climate change continues, we can expect further records to be broken and more frequent and extreme weather events. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture (about 7% for every 1°C of warming) and warmer waters, in turn, provide more energy for storms and can contribute to extreme rainfall events".
This extreme weather has been evident as Ireland has experienced nine days of intense thunderstorm activity, with heavy downpours, lightning and at times, hail, according to Met Éireann.
