Ireland is currently facing a period of unusually cold weather, with temperatures dropping significantly below average. While the conditions are unusual, they are not as severe as some past cold snaps.
Met Éireann forecaster Gerry Murphy described conditions as 'quite unusual' but we are still a long way off the lowest temperature ever recorded in Ireland . The lowest air temperature recorded in the 20th century was -18.8 degrees at Lullymore, Co Kildare, on January 2nd, 1979. What is pushing the temperature dial in the wrong direction is a combination of lying snow and severe frosts.
Fortunately, in our case, warmer Atlantic weather fronts are likely to win the battle over polar air by the weekend — as they inevitably do. Met Éireann forecaster Gerry Murphy describes these conditions as “quite unusual”. Similar episodes occurred in 2018 — the “beast from the east” — and 2010 which was much more severe as it was prolonged over November-December when nocturnal temperatures below -10 became a regular feature; reaching as low as -17.5 in Co Mayo on November 25th. Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, had the coldest day on record at any station on November 21st when the temperature only got up to -9.4. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -19.1 at Markree Castle, Co Sligo, on January 16th, 1881. The lowest air temperature recorded in the 20th century was -18.8 at Lullymore, Co Kildare, on January 2nd, 1979. We are by no means experiencing the worst conditions. Our neighbours, Britain, are hit by a double-whammy of snow/ice and extreme flooding, exacerbated by high rainfall and saturated land. Scotland has experienced colder conditions, reaching -13.3. The United States is experiencing a winter storm with blizzards affecting millions of people with values of -10 and lower across a vast area as it is hit by a “polar vortex”. The short answer is, possibly. Then again what Ireland is going through could be normal variability of our weather
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