Cool and sunny. Dry in the North and West, wet in the South and East. Record
breaking winds
The average national temperature for January 2025 (using the Island of Ireland
dataset*) was 5.37 A�C, which is 0.45 A�C below the most recent 1991-2020
long-term average (LTA) and 0.28 A�C above the 1961-1990 LTA. January 2025 was
the 66th warmest and 61st coldest January on record since 1900. The warmest
January remains in 1916 (109 years ago) and the coldest January remains in 1963
(62 years ago). Four of the top ten warmest Januarys have occurred since 2005.
One of the top ten coldest Januarys has occurred recently, that is 2010.
Provisional gridded rainfall data suggests January 2024 averaged at 116.7 mm
(88% of the 1991-2020 LTA).
The wettest January was in 1974 (51 years ago) and the driest January was in
1963 (62 years ago).

January 2025 was a cool month overall. Rainfall varied from dry in the North and
Northwest to progressively wetter towards the South and East. Early in the month
high pressure to the west allowed a cold arctic airmass to sink south over the
country, which remained in place for the first third of the month. Low pressure
to the southwest pushed weather fronts northwest into the cold airmass over
Ireland and brought heavy snow to the south Midlands, South, Southwest and West
on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th, while the East saw heavy rain. The snow lingered
on the ground for several days in places. High pressure developed to the
southeast and brought milder, drier and cloudier conditions for second third of
the month. The final third was dominated by a powerful Atlantic jet stream,
which steered several active low pressure systems towards Western Europe. One
low pressure system, named storm A�owyn by the Met Office (UK), went through
explosive cyclogenesis as it approached Ireland from the southwest on Thursday
23rd and reached peak intensity as it brushed by the northwest coast of Ireland
in the early hours of Friday 24th, with a sting jet feature forming on the south
side of the low. This brought heavy rain and extreme winds across the country
with widespread disruption and power outages. Another system, named storm
Herminia by the Spanish national weather service (AEMET), became slow moving as
it passed over the country between Sunday 26th and Tuesday 28th and brought
further wet and windy spells. The month finished quieter, as pressure rose to
the south.

Rainfall: Driest in the Northwest. Wettest in the South and East

The majority of monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their
1991-2020 Long-Term Average (LTA). The lowest monthly percentage rainfall was
47% (57.7 mm) of its LTA at Athenry, Co Galway. In contrast, the highest was
173% (165.3 mm) at Roches Point, Co Cork. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from
57.7 mm at Athenry, Co Galway to 198.8 mm (106% of its LTA) at Valentia
Observatory, Co Kerry. The highest daily rainfall total was 37.4 mm at Valentia
Observatory on Saturday 4th. Rain days* ranged from 13 days at Dublin Airport,
Co Dublin to 27 days at Belmullet, Co Mayo. Wet days* varied from 9 days at
Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 22 days at Belmullet. Very wet days* ranged from zero
days at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan to 8 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. A Dry
spell*) was recorded at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin between Monday 6th and Wednesday
22nd (17 days). Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford had its wettest January since 1998
with 153.8 mm (152% of its LTA).

Temperature: Below average nearly everywhere

Overall, mean air temperatures were below their LTA for the month. Deviations
from mean air temperatures ranged from -1.0 A�C at Dublin Airport, Co Dublin
(4.3 A�C mean temperature) to +0.2 A�C at Malin Head, Co Donegal (6.2 A�C mean
temperature). Mean temperatures for the month ranged from 3.9 A�C (0.4A�C below
its LTA) at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 7.3 A�C (0.4A�C below its LTA) at Sherkin
Island, Co Cork. The month��Ts highest temperature was 14.2 A�C recorded at
Finner, Co Donegal on Monday 13th. The month��Ts lowest air temperature was
-7.6 A�C recorded at Athenry, Co Galway on Thursday 9th (the lowest temperature
at a synoptic station since December 2022). The lowest grass minimum temperature
was -11.8 A�C reported at Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Thursday 9th. Nine stations
reported an icing day* on Wednesday 8th. All stations reported ground frost
during January. The number of days with ground frost ranged from 11 days at Mace
Head, Co Galway and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry to 25 days at Phoenix Park,
Co Dublin. All stations reported air frost during January. The number of days
with air frost ranged from 1 day at Malin Head, Co Donegal to 17 days at
Athenry, Co Galway. Oak Park, Co Carlow (-6.7 A�C) and Johnstown Castle, Co
Wexford (-3.4 A�C) had their lowest January minimum temperature since
2010.Sunshine: Above average, sunniest in the East

All available sunshine totals were above their LTA. Percentage of monthly
sunshine values ranged from 135% (71.1 hours) at Shannon Airport, Co Clare to
151% (81.1 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin (its sunniest January on
record (length 61 years). Monthly sunshine totals ranged from 40.4 hours (no LTA
comparison*) at Belmullet, Co Mayo to 89.7 hours (no LTA comparison*) at
Dublin Airport, Co Dublin. The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded
this month was 8.0 hours at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford on Friday 31st. The
number of dull days* ranged from 10 days at Malin Head, Co Donegal to 14 days at
Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford.

Wind: Storm A�owyn brought hurricane force winds and new wind speed records for
Ireland

On Friday 24th January 2025 during storm A�owyn the provisional highest
(sustained and gust) wind speeds in the digital climate record for Ireland were
reported at Mace Head, Co Galway.
The highest gust was 99.5 knots (184 km/h) while the highest 10-minute mean wind
speed was 76.5 knots (142 km/h). Four stations broke their highest gust records.
These were Mace Head, Co Galway, Finner, Co Donegal with 150 km/h (81 knots),
Athenry, Co Galway with 139 km/h (75 knots) and Gurteen, Co Tipperary with 124
km/h (67 knots) (record lengths between 13 and 21 years).
Four stations broke their highest 10-minute mean wind speed record. These were
Mach Head, Co Galway, Finner, Co Donegal with 115 km/h (62 knots), Dunsany, Co
Meath with 76 km/h (41 knots) (length 19 years) and Athenry with 83 km/h (45
knots).
Two stations reached hurricane force 12 on the Beaufort wind scale. Four
stations reached violent storm force 11 and eight station reached storm force 10
on the Beaufort wind scale. Monthly mean wind speeds ranged from 5.5 knots (10.2
km/h) at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon to 15.8 knots (29.3 km/h) at Malin Head, Co
Donegal. Gales were reported on 10 days during the month with strong gales
reported on 23rd, 24th, 26th and 27th. Mean wind speeds reached storm force at
Roches Point, Co Cork late on Thursday 23rd and at seven other stations on
Friday 24th during storm A�owyn. The seven other stations were Belmullet, Co
Mayo, Knock Airport, Co Mayo, Mace Head, Co Galway, Finner, Co Donegal, Malin
Head, Co Donegal, Shannon Airport, Co Clare and Sherkin Island, Co Cork. Mean
wind speeds reached violent storm force 11 at Knock Airport, Co Mayo, Mace Head,
Co Galway, Finner, Co Donegal and Malin Head, Co Donegal on Friday 24th during
storm A�owyn. Mean wind speeds reached hurricane force 12 at Malin Head, Co
Donegal and Mace Head, Co Galway on Friday 24th during storm A�owyn. The number
of days with gales ranged from zero days at a few stations to 6 days at Roches
Point, Co Cork. The number of days with up to strong gales ranged from zero days
at a few stations to 3 days at Roche��Ts Point, Co Cork. The number of days with
storm force winds were up to 2 days at Roche��Ts Point, Co Cork. Both the
month��Ts highest gust and 10-minute mean wind speed was reported at Mace Head,
Co Galway on Friday 24th during storm A�owyn. The highest gust was 99.5 knots
(184 km/h) while the month��Ts highest 10-minute mean wind speed was 76.5 knots
(142 km/h) (Ireland��Ts highest provisional (sustained and gust) wind speeds in
the digital climate record). Several other station records for wind were broken
during storm A�owyn. Highest gusts on record reported at Finner, Co Donegal with
150 km/h (81 knots), Athenry, Co Galway with 139 km/h (75 knots) and Gurteen, Co
Tipperary with 124 km/h (67 knots) (record lengths between 13 and 16 years). Kn

ock Airport and Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon tied their gust records. Highest
10-minute mean wind speeds on record were reported at Finner with 115 km/h (62
knots), Dunsany, Co Meath with 76 km/h (41 knots) (length 19 years) and Athenry
with 83 km/h (45 knots).


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