Donegal’s hottest ever June 'scorcher' confirmed by Met Éireann   

As Met Éireann confirmed that June 2023 was the hottest ever on record, this was borne out by the Donegal statistics as well, despite a tapering off of the general hot spell to below 20°C since Monday, the only concession to the marathon June sunshine and temperatures. 

While the average monthly temperature of greater than 16°C has been seen in July and August in Ireland, this has never occurred never before in the month of June, breaking an 83 year old record that goes back to the first full year of World War 2, or ‘The Emergency’. 

And in the case of Donegal’s weather, the highest daily temperatures locally recorded in June, never dipped below 17.2°C going back to May 28.

In fact, an analysis of the county figures by Donegalive.ie show that the highest daily temperature in Donegal exceeded 20°C on 20 of the 30 days of June. 

The highest official temperatures recorded in the county for 21°C or higher extended to half the month - 15 of the 30 days of June, 12 of those days were 22°C or higher, 10 days at or above 23°C, six days where the temperature was at or above 24° and finally there were two days that the hottest here in Donegal was not just higher than 25°C, it peaked at more than 26°C. 

The highest temperature of 2023 so far, 28.8°C, was reported at Oak Park in Co Carlow on Tuesday, June 13, which is the third consecutive year that a temperature at or above this value has been observed in Ireland. 

Donegal’s highest temperature was recorded the following day, June 14, when the temperature peaked at 26.4°C at Finner, while Malin Head’s highest temperature was recorded at 25.2°C on Saturday, June 24. 

Popular locations like Bundoran have been thronged with visitors especially at weekends 

Provisional data shows that Ireland has experienced its first June with 16+°C average temperatures, exceeding the previous June record which was held for 83 years. June 2023 is set to be more than half a degree higher than June 1940. 

Met Éireann’s Climatologist, Paul Moore said: 

“Although temperatures have fallen in recent days, they will not prevent this June’s record-breaking situation. This year’s particularly warm June is part of an observed warming trend and our research shows that this trend will continue. Our recently published TRANSLATE project provides a reminder that right across society we need to understand and plan for a changing climate”.

“An average monthly temperature of greater than 16°C has been seen in July and August but never before in June.  June 2023 was well above normal due to persistent warm days and nights.” 

“Twenty-three of twenty-five Met Éireann primary weather stations are showing their warmest June on record. In early June, cool easterly winds on the east coast meant that Phoenix Park and Dublin Airport stations were cooler but they still show their warmest June since 1976.”

Donegal warmest official temperature was recorded at 26.4C in the middle of June 

Climate change makes record-breaking temperatures like these more likely, and the recent marine heatwave off the coast of Ireland has brought extreme sea-surface temperatures to Irish shores. 

Met Éireann researcher Dr. Pádraig Flattery explained: 

“As climate change continues, we can expect further records to be broken and more frequent and extreme weather events. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture (about 7% for every 1°C of warming) and warmer waters, in turn, provide more energy for storms and can contribute to extreme rainfall events.” 

This June and especially over the past two weeks, Ireland has seen nine days of intense thunderstorm activity, with heavy downpours, lightning and at times, hail. These were dynamic systems which Met Éireann actively monitored to ensure warnings were in place. While this prolonged spell of thunderstorms has not been the norm in Ireland, going forward we are likely to see more of this type of weather as the climate warms.

Cooling off at Rossnowlagh beach 

The World Meteorological Organisation recently warned that Europe is warming twice as fast as other continents. 16,000 people died as a result of extreme heat last year and widespread droughts caused significant economic impacts.

The rate of June heatwaves has tripled in Spain in the past 12 years.  June 2023 was also the warmest June of record for the UK. 

The provisional statement of June 2023’s past weather and climate will be published on Met Éireann’s website on Tuesday  July 4, 2023. This will also include information on Irish rainfall and sunshine at the various Met Éireann primary weather stations.