March weather summary

Very dry and sunny everywhere; becoming warm after a cool start Areas of high pressure over or close to Ireland were the dominant influence on the month's weather; as a result, dry and mostly sunny conditions prevailed during the first week and for much of the second half. Temperatures rose above normal during the month after a cold and frosty start. Monthly rainfall totals of between 15mm and 50mm generally were only around half of the normal March amounts, with lowest values relative to normal in eastern and southeastern areas. It was the driest March for between 11 and 14 years at many stations. Most precipitation was confined to the period between the 9th to 14th, when snow fell in some areas, while the 30th and 31st were also wet. Most stations recorded between six and nine wetdays during the month (days with 1mm or more rainfall), well below the normal range for March of between 12 and 17 wetdays. Despite a cold start, March was a little warmer than normal overall; mean monthly air temperatures were around half a degree above normal generally, but were over a degree above normal in some western areas. While mean maximum temperatures were around a degree higher than average, mean minimum values were more than one degree below normal in most places, reflecting the frequency of frost during the month, especially during the first week. The majority of stations recorded a total of between 18 and 25 ground frosts; this compares with the normal range for March across the country of between seven and 13 ground frosts. Sunshine totals were above normal everywhere and, for the fifth successive month, they were well above normal in many places. Cork Airport had its sunniest March since 1970, while totals at both Shannon Airport and Valentia Observatory were the highest for March since 1955. The sunniest period of the month was between the 23rd and 27th, when daily values of more than 10 hours were recorded at many stations.