Ireland weather: Met Eireann quietly raises heatwave hopes in latest forecast
Just a couple of weeks ago, Ireland was basking through the hottest May on record and many were beginning to believe that a memorable summer could be on the way.But by June, the weather took a very different turn. Frequent grey skies, thundery downpours and cooler temperatures have left some people wondering if that early burst of sunshine was as good as it was going to get.However, Met Eireann's latest long range forecast has given fresh reason for optimism. It has quietly hinted that the strongest signal for above average temperatures this summer may not come in July or August at all.Instead, September is emerging as the month most likely to deliver warmer than normal conditions, raising hopes that Ireland could potentially be in line for a late spell of heat.In its latest forecast covering July, August and September, Met Eireann said: "The signal from the C3S seasonal models for Ireland during the July, August, September period is for above average temperatures."Mean temperatures during July, August, September are signalled to be above average overall; all three months are likely to trend between 0.5 and 1.0C above normal. The likelihood of higher-than-normal temperatures is strongest in September."The outlook also points to rainfall being below average during the three month period. It added: "The rainfall forecast is less certain, with a weak signal for below average rainfall overall, especially during July."Sea surface temperatures are also expected to remain above normal during the period. The national forecaster stated: "The sea surface temperatures around Irish coasts are expected to continue slightly above average during July, August, September, trending 0.2 to 1.0C higher than normal generally, with the highest anomalies expected off southern and eastern coasts."Met Eireann has stressed that seasonal outlooks are different from standard weather forecasts and should be treated with caution.Rather than predicting what the weather will do on a particular day, they are designed to show the overall trends that are more likely over a period of several months.The national forecaster said a wide range of outcomes are still possible and that long range forecasts cannot guarantee anything.Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives... To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here.
