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WEATHER IN IRELAND

Ireland's climate can be described as a moderate maritime climate due to its immediacy to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream which passes through.

Irish winters are predominated by rain and covered skies where the occasional sunny intervals brighten up the lowlands whilst the higher regions may witness weeks of snow covered mountains. The average temperature throughout January tends to be around 5ºC, however overnight temperatures may fall below zero. Severe winters can lead to continual sub-zero temperatures for days where lakes and rivers partially freeze over.

Unlike the winters, Ireland's summers tend to be warm and bright where the sparse clouds dot the sky but don't abate the sun. It is not unusual for there to be summer rains but these last a few days at the most and tend to be replaced by days reaching the 15ºC mark or more.

As a rule, the Irish coastline rarely varies in climate from winter to summer, where an average temperature of 10ºC remains throughout the year due to the protective effect the Atlantic Ocean has, taking in the summer heat and emitting it during the winter.

As in most countries, the weather in Ireland varies from one spot to the next. In general, the eastern areas of mountainous regions tend to be the rainiest areas due to the prevailing winds, examples being Kerry and Donegal. In contrast, the driest areas tend to be those to the east of flat regions, especially the eastern coasts, Dublin being the driest county.

Regarding temperature fluctuations, it is, as one may have imagined, the southern coasts that boast the kindest weather, whilst the north or inland regions bear the coldest weather away from the warm ocean currents.