Met Éireann report reveals 2023 was warmest year on record in Ireland

James Cox

Met Éireann's annual report has revealed 2023 was the warmest on record in Ireland.

The report found the average temperature was greater than 11 degrees for the first time.

It broke the previous record for the warmest year in Ireland, set in 2022.

June was the warmest month ever recorded, while March and July were the wettest.

The national forecaster said we have never had a year when we've broken records for two months having the wettest months ever.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Met Éireann climatologist Keith Lambkin said 2023 was a "remarkable year in climate terms".

"Never before have we had a year where we have broken records for two months having the wettest months ever."

Mr Lambkin said El Niño is having a big impact on temperatures in Ireland.

El Niño (Spanish for 'the Christ Child') refers to a warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The climate pattern is associated with increasing temperatures around the world.

Mr Lambkin said: "That El Niño effect is expected to stay with us till the early part of this year likely until mid-next year, so that extra heater effect is going to add to global warming again next year."

The lowest temperature of the year of -7.2 degrees Celsius was recorded on January 17th at Lullymore Nature Centre, Co Kildare.

Mr Lambkin added: “Ireland has seen a remarkable year with rainfall and warming at unprecedented levels at times. These record-breaking extremes have knock-on consequences to much of society. Past weather events are no longer a reliable indicator of future weather events, but knowing this allows us to better plan and adapt to our changing climate.”

Some of the main findings of the report include: