Why has the weather been so wet of late?

Last summer was pretty miserable, with significantly higher levels of rainfall than in an average summer and things did not change with the seasons. 

Speaking to Moncrieff, Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather described the past few months as an “exceptionally” bad few months. 

“It’s been raining pretty much nonstop since July of last year,” he said. 

“The weather charts and the records show above average or average rainfall every month since July. 

“November was, believe it or not, one of the best months in terms of rainfall amounts. 

“It’s been very wet and March just gone, it was twice the normal amount of rainfall in the east and south of the country. 

“It’s been an exceptionally wet spell of weather that’s been going on for the last eight months really.” 

People walk in the rain in Bantry. Credit: Andy Gibson/Alamy Live News.

Traditionally, the west of Ireland has recorded the highest levels of rainfall in the country. 

However, the past few months has seen the rest of the country catch up. 

“If you look at the rainfall amounts, the east is now kind of getting what the west used to get,” Mr O’Reilly said. 

“Even a little bit more. 

“It’s unusual; the weather systems have been coming up from the south. 

“So, rather than coming into the west and hitting the west - normally they take the bulk of the rain - and it crosses the country and by the time it reaches Dublin and the east of the country, there’s not as much rain left. 

“However, for the last good few months, the rainfall has been coming up from the south - which is why the south of the country has seen the heaviest [rainfall].”

A man with an umbrella tries to take shelter from the wind. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr O’Reilly said change was “partly due to climate change” but there are a number of other factors influencing weather forecasts. 

“The temperatures have been above normal - especially the sea temperatures,” he said. 

“When you get milder air, more moisture is held in the air. 

“So, we’re stuck in this weather pattern of the low pressure systems coming up from the south. 

“We haven’t really had where we have any break with nice settled weather sitting right over Ireland.” 

People enjoy Dublin in the rain. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Mr O’Reilly admitted people are “tired” of him posting about rain and said farmers in particular are “desperate” for some good weather. 

“A lot of crops haven’t been put in the ground from the tillage point of view because the ground is too wet,” he said. 

“From a livestock point of view, it’s too wet as well to let them out, so they’ve been having to feed cattle indoors a lot longer than they would - which is costing a lot of money.” 

Met Éireann believes tomorrow will be cloudy with some rain in the east and scattered showers in the rest of the country.

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Main image: A rainy day in Dublin as umbrella come out against the latest wet weather.