The Irish Weather

The Irish weather has had some bad press ... like the rumor that the usual way to tell the difference between winter and summer in Ireland being to measure the temperature of the rain. While it is true that there are no really major temperature differences between the seasons, and that rain is likely every second day, the Irish weather is manageable. If you are prepared for everything it can throw at you, often within the same day.

Average Temperatures in Ireland

Temperatures will rarely go below 0 °C (32°F) and only occasionally above 20 °C (68°F) - with June, July and August being the warmest months, January and February the coldest. Extremes are not unknown though. The summer of 2006 was the hottest on record for ages. On the other hand rare freezing spells tend to bring the country to a grinding halt and even a sprinkling of snow will have most drivers panicking.

Dressing for the Irish Weather

The secret of coping with the Irish weather lies in taking the correct clothing with you. You should prepare for moderately mild weather at all time, and be able to supplement basic dress with a warm sweater and/or rainproof top. Even in summer.

A hat is always a good idea, an umbrella definitely isn’t. It’ll blow away, or fold in on itself, at the first taste of a strong Irish breeze. Witness many umbrella corpses littering Dublin streets every rainy (and windy) day, especially around bus stops.

Obviously your hat should also fit well, and be somewhat secured. Baseball caps may be cool, but their aerodynamics in a headwind suck.

Be careful on sunny days, especially on the beaches: the breeze will cool you, while the sun still burns your skin. And take sensible footwear, most rural attractions (and even some urban areas) are best described as "rugged terrain".

Plus … the ground is bound to be wet occasionally.

Is There a Best Time to Travel to Ireland?

Now that is a different cattle of fish ... and the best months to travel to Ireland are discussed here. At this point, it should be enough to say that March through to June, and the September and October, rank pretty high. Though even a January in Ireland can be nice, albeit with short and often bitterly cold days.

Average Weather in Ireland Through the Year?

It all depends on where you are, really … despite the modest size of the island, there can be major differences between e.g. the west and east coasts, depending on wind direction for instance. So following are samples from around Ireland …

The Average Weather at Malin Head

Located in County Donegal, this is the most northernmost point of Ireland, and has some wild weather if the winds are high!

• January - minimum temperature 3 °C (37°F), maximum temperature 8 °C (46°F), daily sunshine 1:12 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 9 days, wind 19 knots.
• February - minimum temperature 3 °C (37°F), maximum temperature 8 °C (46°F), daily sunshine 2:12 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 6 days, wind 18.4 knots.
• March - minimum temperature 4 °C (39 °F), maximum temperature 9 °C (48 °F), daily sunshine 3:06 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 17.9 knots.

• April - minimum temperature 5 °C (41 °F), maximum temperature 11 °C (51 °F), daily sunshine 5:06 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 18.1 knots.
• May - minimum temperature 7 °C (45 °F), maximum temperature 13 °C (55 °F), daily sunshine 6:12 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 14.2 knots.
• June - minimum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), maximum temperature 15 °C (59 °F), daily sunshine 5:42 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 13.2 knots.
• July - minimum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), maximum temperature 16 °C (61 °F), daily sunshine 4:18 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 13.2 knots.
• August - minimum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), maximum temperature 17 °C (62 °F), daily sunshine 4:18 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 6 days, wind 13.2 knots.
• September - minimum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), maximum temperature 16 °C (60 °F), daily sunshine 3:30 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 15.7 knots.

• October - minimum temperature 8 °C (47 °F), maximum temperature 13 °C (55 °F), daily sunshine 2:24 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 8 days, wind 17.5 knots.
• November - minimum temperature 5 °C (41 °F), maximum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), daily sunshine 1:30 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 8 days, wind 18.3 knots.
• December - minimum temperature 4 °C (40 °F), maximum temperature 8 °C (47 °F), daily sunshine 0:54 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 19 knots.

The Average Weather in Belmullet

This weather recording station in County Mayo gives you an indicator of the weather in Ireland’s west, for example on the Wild Atlantic Way.

• January - minimum temperature 3 °C (38 °F), maximum temperature 8 °C (47 °F), daily sunshine 1:30 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 9 days, wind 14.7 knots.
• February - minimum temperature 3 °C (37 °F), maximum temperature 8 °C (47 °F), daily sunshine 2:25 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 6 days, wind 13.9 knots.
• March - minimum temperature 4 °C (39 °F), maximum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), daily sunshine 3:20 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 14.2 knots.
• April - minimum temperature 5 °C (41 °F), maximum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), daily sunshine 5:15 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 12.2 knots.
• May - minimum temperature 7 °C (45 °F), maximum temperature 14 °C (57 °F), daily sunshine 6:09 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 12.4 knots.
• June - minimum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), maximum temperature 16 °C (60 °F), daily sunshine 5:25 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 11.9 knots.
• July - minimum temperature 11 °C (52 °F), maximum temperature 17 °C (62 °F), daily sunshine 4:18 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 11.6 knots.
• August - minimum temperature 11 °C (52 °F), maximum temperature 17 °C (63 °F), daily sunshine 4:38 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 6 days, wind 11.3 knots.
• September - minimum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), maximum temperature 16 °C (60 °F), daily sunshine 3:40 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 13 knots.
• October - minimum temperature 8 °C (47 °F), maximum temperature 13 °C (56 °F), daily sunshine 2:40 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 8 days, wind 14.3 knots.
• November - minimum temperature 6 °C (43 °F), maximum temperature 11 °C (51 °F), daily sunshine 1:45 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 9 days, wind 13.8 knots.
• December - minimum temperature 4 °C (40 °F), maximum temperature 9 °C (48 °F), daily sunshine 1:05 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 9 days, wind 14.3 knots.

The Average Weather on Valentia Island

Visiting the south-west of Ireland, counties Cork and Kerry? Then this is the weather you may expect in coastal areas of the Ring of Kerry.

• January - minimum temperature 4 °C (40 °F), maximum temperature 9 °C (49 °F), daily sunshine 1:25 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 11 days, wind 13.1 knots.
• February - minimum temperature 4 °C (39 °F), maximum temperature 9 °C (49 °F), daily sunshine 2:10 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 8 days, wind 12.6 knots.
• March - minimum temperature 4 °C (40 °F), maximum temperature 11 °C (51 °F), daily sunshine 3:03 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 8 days, wind 12.1 knots.
• April - minimum temperature 6 °C (42 °F), maximum temperature 12 °C (54 °F), daily sunshine 5 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 10.1 knots.
• May - minimum temperature 8 °C (46 °F), maximum temperature 14 °C (58 °F), daily sunshine 5:48 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 10.3 knots.
• June - minimum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), maximum temperature 17 °C (62 °F), daily sunshine 5:07 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 9.1 knots.
• July - minimum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), maximum temperature 18 °C (64 °F), daily sunshine 4:31 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 8.5 knots.
• August - minimum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), maximum temperature 18 °C (64 °F), daily sunshine 4:30 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 7 days, wind 8.9 knots.
• September - minimum temperature 11 °C (51 °F), maximum temperature 17 °C (62 °F), daily sunshine 3:36 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 8 days, wind 10 knots.
• October - minimum temperature 8 °C (47 °F), maximum temperature 14 °C (58 °F), daily sunshine 2:31 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 11 days, wind 11.4 knots.
• November - minimum temperature 6 °C (43 °F), maximum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), daily sunshine 1:45 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 10 days, wind 11.8 knots.
• December - minimum temperature 5 °C (41 °F), maximum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), daily sunshine 1:10 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 10 days, wind 12.8 knots.

The Average Weather In Dublin

The temperatures are those recorded at Dublin Airport – in general it is a bit warmer and less windy in Dublin City proper.

• January - minimum temperature 3 °C (37 °F), maximum temperature 8 °C (46 °F), daily sunshine 1:48 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 12.2 knots.
• February - minimum temperature 3 °C (37 °F), maximum temperature 8 °C (46 °F), daily sunshine 2:30 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 3 days, wind 11.7 knots.
• March - minimum temperature 4 °C (38 °F), maximum temperature 10 °C (49 °F), daily sunshine 3:36 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 3 days, wind 11.6 knots.
• April - minimum temperature 5 °C (40 °F), maximum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), daily sunshine 5:12 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 3 days, wind 9.7 knots.
• May = minimum temperature 7 °C (44 °F), maximum temperature 14 °C (58 °F), daily sunshine 6:06 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 8.7 knots.
• June - minimum temperature 10 °C (49 °F), maximum temperature 18 °C (63 °F), daily sunshine 6 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 8 knots.
• July - minimum temperature 12 °C (53 °F), maximum temperature 19 °C (66 °F), daily sunshine 5:24 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 3 days, wind 8.1 knots.
• August - minimum temperature 11 °C (52 °F), maximum temperature 19 °C (65 °F), daily sunshine 5:06 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 8 knots.
• September - minimum temperature 10 °C (49 °F), maximum temperature 17 °C (62 °F), daily sunshine 4:18 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 8.9 knots.
• October - minimum temperature 8 °C (46 °F), maximum temperature 14 °C (57 °F), daily sunshine 3:06 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 9.9 knots.
• November - minimum temperature 5 °C (40 °F), maximum temperature 10 °C (50 °F), daily sunshine 2:24 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 4 days, wind 10.8 knots.
• December - minimum temperature 4 °C (38 °F), maximum temperature 9 °C (47 °F), daily sunshine 1:42 hrs, rainfall (above 5 mm) on 5 days, wind 11.8 knots.