Ireland has warmest spring in 126 years
Spring this year had the highest average temperature ever experienced in 126 years of records held by Met Eireann, it has said.
This year marked the first spring that was more than two degrees higher than the 20th century average for the same period.
Advertisement
Overall, it was the sunniest spring on record, with most stations recording highest values for total hours of sunshine in spring, according to the meteorological service.
The season's highest temperature was reported at Athenry in Co Galway on Wednesday with a temperature of 25.9C – the highest daily maximum spring temperature in 15 years of records.
Spring 2025 was also relatively dry, provisionally ranking as the 16th driest since records began in 1941, and the driest since 2020.
As a result of the warmer, sunnier and calmer conditions, a marine heatwave developed off the west coast of Ireland through April and May with sea surface temperatures reaching over 2C warmer than average in some coastal areas, and up to 4C warmer than average in offshore areas.
Advertisement
The latest Met Eireann statistics show that Ireland had its warmest and sunniest meteorological spring on record this year.
Blocking high pressure dominated through most of the season, bringing a lot of sunshine with it, it added.
It said that this, along with predominantly easterly winds due to the high-pressure systems often setting up just to the north of Ireland and the UK, led to sea surface temperatures to the south and west of Ireland reaching record high levels during April and May.
People enjoy the good weather at Brittas Bay beach, Co Wicklow. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.
All three months saw air temperatures well above average at the majority of stations, leading to all but a few stations in the east having their warmest spring on record.
Advertisement
March was mild, dry and sunny, with high pressure dominating through most of the month with weak steering currents aloft, it added.
April was warm and sunny overall. The first half of the month was dominated by high pressure to the north bringing a dry easterly airflow.
The second half of the month saw a wetter spell for a couple of weeks, where Atlantic low pressure dominated and brought several spells of heavy rain, especially to the Midlands, South and East.
It settled down again towards the end of the month with high pressure bringing record warmth for April.
Advertisement
May continued the theme of high-pressure dominance for much of the month.
Blocking high pressure set up just to the north brought an easterly airflow with plenty of sunshine.
The settled spell broke for the last week of the season, with Atlantic low pressure breaking through and bringing spells of rain or showers.
Twenty-three of 25 stations had their warmest spring on record.
Advertisement
Only Dunsany in Co Meath had its second warmest and Dublin Airport had its joint third warmest.
Oak Park in Co Carlow, Moore Park, Co Cork, Athenry, Co Galway and Casement, Co Dublin recorded their warmest spring on record for the third consecutive years, while Roches Point, Co Cork and Markree, Co Sligo had their warmest spring for the second year in a row.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
What to do if your home is in one of Britain's expanding floodplains
As climate change accelerates and the weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, the risk of flooding across the UK is rising sharply. Around 6.3 million properties in England are now located in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water, according to the Environment Agency's most recent National Flood Risk Assessment (Nafra2). As flood risk maps are updated to reflect climate data and improved modelling, more people may find their homes reclassified as being in a floodplain. Here, Telegraph Money explains why flood zone designations are changing, what it could mean for you and the steps you can take to protect your home and finances. Why are flood zones changing? Are flood zone reclassifications becoming more common? What does it mean for your contents and buildings insurance? Are there any other financial implications? What to watch out for when buying a property What if I live in a flood-prone area? Why are flood zones changing? In recent months, the Environment Agency has introduced several major updates to its flood risk datasets and online mapping tools as part of the Nafra2 project. These updates reflect both changes in climate patterns and improvements in data and modelling to offer a more accurate picture of flood risk. Paul Smith, of The Strategic Land Group, said: 'As a result of climate change the UK is expected to get wetter, with more intense rainfall. This will change the pattern and frequency of flooding in comparison to what we have experienced before.' Babek Ismayil, chief executive and founder of home buying platform OneDome, added: 'Flood zones are updated as new environmental and meteorological data becomes available. Agencies like the Environment Agency reassess areas based on factors such as rainfall patterns, river flow, sea-level rise and changes in land use. 'As modelling becomes more accurate, properties that were previously seen as low-risk may now fall within areas recognised as having a greater flood threat.' Are flood zone reclassifications becoming more common? With climate change contributing to more extreme and unpredictable weather, the number of areas designated as flood risk zones is increasing, according to Andrew Boast, property specialist at SAM Conveyancing. He said: 'Rising sea levels, heavier rainfall and overwhelmed drainage systems lead to more areas being identified as floodplains.' Laura Xu, of climate risk analytics company Climate X, added: 'Development in greenfield or previously undeveloped areas can exacerbate surface water flooding. Together, these factors are making flood zone updates – and reclassifications – more common.' According to the Nafra2 data, one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by 2050. Blake Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to ask what support will be provided to those who now find themselves living on a floodplain. Mr Stephenson said that updated flood zone data meant many of his constituents found their home categorised as being in a floodplain. What does it mean for your contents and buildings insurance? If your home is in a newly designated flood zone, it could affect your home insurance costs and coverage at renewal. Alex Parker-Walklate, chief insurance officer at Intelligent Insurance, said: 'Being in a floodplain might lead to flood exclusions, higher premiums or a larger excess, albeit most insurers also have their own flood modelling to determine which properties are most at risk of flooding.' Fortunately, the introduction of the Government's Flood Re scheme in 2016 means affordable contents and buildings insurance is available to many homeowners in flood-prone areas. However, this doesn't cover homes built since 2009 or blocks of flats with three or more residences. This is because Flood Re was designed to support existing homes, not encourage development in high-risk areas. If you're not covered by Flood Re and your home is now in a floodplain, it can be worth speaking to an insurance broker who can help you explore specialist cover options. Are there any other financial implications? As well as affecting the amount you pay for home insurance, being in a floodplain can potentially reduce your property's value and make it more difficult to sell your home. In its Financial Stability Report last year, the Bank of England warned of the risk to home values from extreme weather. It said: 'Reduced insurance availability and increased costs could pose further potential challenges to financial stability, by putting downwards pressure on house prices and exposing households and lenders to greater losses.' Mr Boast said: 'You must inform a potential buyer if any part of the property (whether buildings or surrounding garden or land) has ever been flooded, including if this affected the property's insurance premiums.' Securing a mortgage or remortgaging may also be more challenging if the property is now within a designated flood zone. 'Some mortgage lenders will not lend where the security property is located within a high flood-risk area. They may request a more detailed Flood Risk Assessment before they agree to lend to the borrower,' added Mr Boast. If you're struggling to get a mortgage, it's sensible to speak to a mortgage broker who specialises in flood-risk properties. They can connect you to lenders that may be more willing to offer you a mortgage, depending on your situation. What to watch out for when buying a property Before buying, it's crucial to check a property's proximity to rivers, streams or the coast and look for signs of past surface water flooding, which may suggest a higher reclassification risk in future. Poor drainage or frequent standing water after rain can also be indicators, according to Mr Ismayil. He said: 'Always consult the Environment Agency's flood risk maps and consider commissioning a specialist flood risk assessment during the conveyancing process. Areas with ongoing or planned flood mitigation projects may also signal recognised risk.' Mr Boast added: 'Search data can often flag flood risk within the local area; however, this doesn't specifically mean your property is affected. Investigate all evidence through searches, the sellers and your survey to decide whether to buy a property in a high flood-risk area.' You can check the immediate flood risk by using the online Environment Agency tool, as well as the long-term flood risk for areas in England by using the tool on the government website. What if I live in a flood-prone area? If your home is already in a floodplain or it's recently been reclassified, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk and impact of flooding. These include installing flood defences such as flood doors and air brick covers, raising electrical sockets and appliances such as washing machines and moving valuables and important documents to higher floors. Taking early action can help protect your home and may improve your chances of getting appropriate insurance and finance.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Thunderstorm risk for northern England after hot weather
Large parts of northern England could be hit with thunderstorms on Saturday after the hot weather that has spread across the country. Temperatures could reach up to 34C (93.2) in isolated areas of England, but some places might be hit by rain, hail and lightning, the Met Office has said. A yellow thunderstorm weather warning is in place, running from 3pm on Saturday until 4am on Sunday, covering a large area stretching from Nottingham to north of Newcastle. The Met Office said the most intense storms could produce 'frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds'. It said there might be a chance of flooding, with the ground hardened from a spell of dry weather. It comes as a number of areas around the country could reach heatwave thresholds on Friday, if high temperatures are recorded for a third consecutive day. Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said: 'There are scattered thunderstorms coming through. Some of the rain could be quite intense, and frequent lightning, hail, gusty winds and some heavy downpours, which we haven't seen for a while. 'Some of the ground is quite hard at the moment, and when you get heavy rain hitting hard ground, it can cause surface water issues. You might find surface water on the roads, drains finding it difficult to cope and a small chance of homes being flooded.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Temperatures reached 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday, with an amber heat-health alert in place for all regions in England. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Issued by the UK Health Security Agency for the first time since September 2023, it will remain in place until 9am on Monday. It says 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures. During 2022's heatwave, when temperatures rose past 40C, 320 people were hospitalised. Steve Cole, policy director at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk – it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.' Human-caused climate breakdown is supercharging extreme weather across the world, driving more frequent and more deadly disasters, from heatwaves to floods to wildfires.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Yellow thunderstorm warning issued amid heatwave
The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for swathes of England amid rising temperatures. The forecaster is warning that lightning, heavy rain and flooding could occur in the East and West Midlands, the North East and North West, Yorkshire and Wales. The yellow warning is in place from 3pm on Saturday to 4am on Sunday. It comes amid predictions that the UK could break its record for the warmest day of the year for the second day in a row, with temperatures up to 33C forecast. Temperatures reached as high as 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday, amid an amber heat health alert for all regions in England. The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns that 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among people aged 65 and over or those with health conditions. Meanwhile, temperatures are forecast to reach the low 30s and could potentially hit 33C on Friday, the Met Office said. By Friday afternoon, a number of areas are expected to have passed the heatwave criteria, Dan Stroud, a Met Office forecaster, said. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Mr Stroud said: 'We're expecting the hot and dry conditions to continue. It does turn a little bit hazier in the west during the course of Friday, but we're still expecting temperatures to reach the low 30s – 31C, 32C – fairly widely, maybe seeing 33C.' Increasing amounts of cloud will move in from the west on Saturday, with a chance of showers, some of which could be thundery in north Wales and north-west England, while eastern areas will see another dry and hot day, he added. In what will probably be the peak of the hot spell on Saturday, 34C is possible – still below the June record of 35.6C, set in 1976. Sunday will be another very warm day in the South and East, probably in the late 20s. Elsewhere, however, it will be cooler, with temperatures in the mid 20s, said Mr Stroud. Firefighters have responded to more than 500 wildfires across England and Wales so far this year, and the National Fire Chiefs Council is urging people to take precautions to prevent further incidents. As of Thursday, 564 wildfire incidents had been responded to by English and Welsh fire and rescue services so far this year, a 717 per cent increase on the same period last year and more than double the number seen in 2022, which went on to be the worst year on record for wildfires, said the NFCC.
