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2023 was warmest year on record - Met Éireann report

The average temperature in Ireland in 2023 was greater than 11C for the first time
The average temperature in Ireland in 2023 was greater than 11C for the first time

This year was the warmest on record, Met Éireann has confirmed.

According to its annual report, the average temperature in Ireland in 2023 was greater than 11C for the first time.

2022 held the previous record for the warmest year and was 0.06C warmer than 2007.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Met Éireann Climatologist Keith Lambkin said 2023 was a "remarkable year in climate terms".

June this year was the warmest ever recorded while March and July were the wettest.

Mr Lambkin said: "Never before have we had a year where we have broken records for two months having the wettest months ever."

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He said 23 of the last 24 years have been "well above normal" for high temperatures with the only exception being 2010 due to the 'Big Freeze'.

While there has been a steady and significant increase in warming globally, he said the rate of warming in Ireland is similar to the rest of the world.

Mr Lambkin said the El Niño effect is impacting the temperature in Ireland.

El Niño, which is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere, last occurred in 2018-2019.

Mr Lambkin said: "That El Niño effect is expected to stay with us till the early part of this year likely until mid-next year, so that extra heater effect is going to add to global warming again next year."

He added 2024 is expected to be another warm year on average.

Met Éireann expanding 'weather radar network'

Director of Met Éireann Eoin Moran said there were a number of projects taking place to improve "numerical weather prediction systems".

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, he said that this was based on a "new shared supercomputer" that was being installed in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Mr Moran said: "We are expanding our weather radar network, which is very useful real-time information people have available to them on apps and websites and help us to identify weather as it is happening."

He said they are expanding their climate modelling ability to help support adaptation so the country can plan for the changing climate.

Mr Moran said that artificial intelligence will have a major influence on forecasting capability.

"It will help us to perhaps downscale and improve the accuracy of forecasts and run our forecasts in a more efficient manner," he said.

Mr Moran added the forecasting ability available provides very localised information.