Malin Head recorded stormiest weather of 2025/26 winter season , latest data shows
The Inishowen weather station reported 24 days with gales during the winter period, more than any other Irish station
Last month was slightly wetter and milder than average at Malin Head, according to the latest data from Met Eireann, while Inishowen recorded the stormiest weather in Ireland this past winter.
Total rainfall for April reached 66.9 millimetres, which was marginally above the long-term average of 63.4mms, indicating near-normal precipitation overall despite some notably unsettled spells.
The wettest day of the month by far occurred on Saturday, April 4th, when 16.0 mms of rain was recorded, accounting for almost a quarter of the month’s total rainfall in just 24 hours.
Temperatures at Malin Head were also above normal during April. The mean monthly temperature was 9.0 degrees Celsius, compared to the long-term average of 8.4 degrees. This reflects a continuation of the generally mild conditions seen across much of Ireland in recent months.
The warmest day of the month came right at the close of April, with a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees recorded on Thursday, April 30th, ahead of the high of 16.8 degrees recorded on April 7th.
Wind conditions remained characteristically brisk at the exposed Atlantic station. The highest gust recorded during April was 57 knots on Saturday, April 11th, equivalent to almost 66 mph, underlining Malin Head’s reputation as one of the country’s windiest locations.
Nationally, Met Éireann’s newly released Winter 2025/26 report further highlighted Malin Head’s prominence in Ireland’s wind climatology.
Across the three-month winter season of December, January and February, Malin Head recorded the highest seasonal mean wind speed in the country at 17.4 knots, significantly above the national minimum of 5.8 knots observed at Moore Park, Co. Cork.
The Inishowen station also reported 24 days with gales during the winter, more than any other Irish station, along with five days featuring up to strong gales.
Storm activity was particularly notable during winter, with strong gales reported during Storm Bram on December 9th and again during Storm Chandra on January 27th.
Malin Head was the only station nationally to record storm force winds during the season, with a peak gust of 70 knots (81mph) and a highest 10-minute mean wind speed of 56 knots, both occurring on January 27th during Storm Chandra.
Winter 2025/26 was mild nationwide overall, marking the sixth consecutive season with above-average temperatures across Ireland. December and February were warmer than average, while January was slightly cooler than normal.