Rain has ceased in the east as country endures dry period

AS the sun beats down and the grass turns from green to yellow, the country is finding itself in the grips in one of its driest periods on record.

This Thursday will mark a full two weeks since rain last fell at 24 of the country’s 25 weather stations. Factor in the searing heat, and last month has been the sixth driest June on record. In fact, the eastern part of the country received just 5% of the average rainfall for this time of year.

The Dublin Airport weather station collected just 4.8mm of rain – 7% of the average, making it the driest June in 76 years.

And in the Phoenix Park, less than 4mm of rain fell, making it the driest June since 1941. Elsewhere, Athenry was not quite so dry, receiving 25.2mm of rain; however this was far less than the 119.5mm which fell over the same period last year. The west of the country was far wetter overall, with 50% of the average June rainfall.

The bone-dry summer has been matched with record-breaking heat. The ongoing heatwave – which brought with it Ireland’s hottest day since 1976 – is set to cool down only when rain finally falls later this week.