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Dublin Live
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Dublin Live
Dublin weather: Met Eireann pinpoints date summer heat will return after week of rain
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Ireland is set for a grand spell of weather with the return of high pressure, promising sunshine and warmth after a bout of unsettled conditions took over this weekend. Before the shift, we were treated to one of the finest Mays in years, thanks to an 'Omega Block' that brought us prolonged dry and sunny spells across the country. While the last week of May doesn't look like it'll bring back that glorious weather, there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon for June, although as always, long-range forecasts should be taken with a pinch of salt, reports the Irish Mirror. Met Eireann's extended forecast is giving us a bit of optimism, with their latest update from last Tuesday (May 20) hinting that "high pressure is expected to be the dominant factor" during the week of 9-15 June. This means we could be looking at "below average rainfall amounts and above average mean air temperatures for most of the country", and the same could be said for the following week (16-22 June), though forecasters are quick to remind us that confidence in such long-term predictions is "low" due to "increasing uncertainty" Adding to the hopeful outlook, Met Eireann meteorologist Paul Moore has spoken about the potential lasting impact of the Omega Block which blessed us with the recent stunning weather. Speaking during the spell of splendid weather earlier this month, Moore shared insights on the Omega Block, noting it forms when the North Atlantic jet stream weakens due to the early breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex after a chilly winter. This year, the vortex weakened just before St Patrick's Day, rather than its usual mid-April timeline. Mr Moore said: "The influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months." He also mentioned that this leads to "high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again" and for the upcoming summer, it signals "June, July, and August has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures for Ireland during the summer months". Weather expert Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather spoke about the "huge uncertainty" regarding the June Bank Holiday weekend's weather, highlighting conflicting predictions from different models – one showing Ireland dodging the rain, while another suggests the country will be drenched. Met EEireann predicts the next weekend will "continue unsettled with further rain and showers", following a week where rain is expected daily. Tuesday is set to be particularly wet, with the mercury struggling to climb above 17 degrees. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Return to summer scorcher in store as Met Eireann pinpoints next heat surge
A return of high pressure and the sunshine and warm temperatures that will come with it is on the cards for Ireland after more unsettled conditions began to dominate this weekend. Prior to the shift in the weather, Ireland had enjoyed one of the most pleasant months of May in many a year, with a phenomenon called the 'Omega Block' leading to extended spells of dry and sunny weather nationwide. While there's no sign of a return to that weather in the final week of the month, there are promising signs of a comeback a little bit further into June, although such signs need to be treated with the caution that accompanies any forecast beyond the short-term. Met Éireann's extended range forecast provides one such promising sign, with the most recent forecast, published last Tuesday (May 20), suggesting that 'high pressure is expected to be the dominant factor' for the week of 9-15 June. This will bring with it 'below average rainfall amounts and above average mean air temperatures for most of the country', a trend that is expected to be repeated in Week 4 of the forecast (16-22 June), although confidence in such a forecast so far out is said to be 'low' due to 'increasing uncertainty'. Another promising sign of a return to more pleasant weather are the comments of Met Éireann meteorologist Paul Moore about the potential longer-term effects of the Omega Block which caused the recent fine spell. Speaking to the Irish Mirror at the height of the glorious weather earlier this month, Moore explained that the Omega Block emerges when the North Atlantic jet stream is weak and this happens when a weather phenomenon called the Stratospheric Polar Vortex breaks down early after a cold winter. It normally breaks down in mid-April, but this year it happened a week before St Patrick's Day. 'The influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months,' Moore said. He added that it causes 'high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again' and for this summer it means 'June, July, and August has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures for Ireland during the summer months'. In the immediate term, there is 'huge uncertainty' around the June Bank Holiday weekend forecast, according to weather expert Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather, who illustrated his point with one weather model showing Ireland avoiding rain and another model showing the country practically covered in it. Met Eireann's current forecast for next weekend is for the weather to 'continue unsettled with further rain and showers' after a week where we're set to get them every day until then. Tuesday looks set to be the dampest day of a wet week overall, with highest temperatures stretching no higher than 17 degrees. Check out the Met Éireann forecast for the week ahead below. Sunday The afternoon and evening will be blustery with a mix of sunshine and scattered showers, some of which will be heavy. Noticeably cooler and fresher day than of late with highest temperatures of 11 to 16 degrees, coolest in the northwest, in fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds, strongest along the west coast. Clear spells for much of the night with scattered showers continuing, especially in the west, while it'll become drier in the east. Later in the night, cloud will build from the west. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees with winds decreasing mostly moderate and backing southwesterly, still fresh at times in western coastal parts. Monday Cloud will continue to build from the west tomorrow morning with outbreaks of rain extending eastwards. The rain will turn heavier for a time later in the afternoon and into the evening before clearing into the Irish Sea with sunny spells and well scattered showers following. Highest temperatures of 11 to 16 degrees, mildest in the south, in moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds, veering westerly later and increasing strong for a time in western and southwestern coastal parts. Clear spells at first with well scattered showers on Monday night, mainly over the northern half of the country. The showers will ease as cloud builds, with rain following into the southwest by morning. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in moderate westerly winds, fresh near Atlantic coasts. A wet day with spells of rain tracking eastwards through the day. Some sunny spells will develop later in the day as the rain begins to clear to showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees generally, a little cooler in Ulster. Light southerly or variable winds will become southwesterly and increasing moderate to fresh and gusty. A mix of cloud and clear spells with showers or longer spells of rain. Mild and humid with temperatures not falling below 8 to 12 degrees in moderate westerly winds. Wednesday Sunny spells and showers in the morning before turning mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain pushing in from the west. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees generally in moderate westerly winds. Thursday Sunny spells and well scattered showers in the morning before cloud and outbreaks of rain push in from the southwest. Highest temperatures again of 14 to 17 degrees generally in light to moderate westerly winds. Further outlook Current indications suggest that Friday and the weekend will continue unsettled with further spells of rain and showers.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
'Omega Block' to bring long summer heatwave after sizzling May record
The warm and dry weather may be coming to an end but it's not all doom and gloom for the months ahead. The prolonged spell of dry, sunny weather is predicted to end in about a week, with the Met Office forecasting a shift towards cloudier skies and cooler temperatures. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts because, despite slight variations in the exact timing of the rain's return, the service is pretty confident that the warm weather is due to give way to more unsettled conditions by next weekend. However, it's not all bad news, as weather experts predict that the record-breaking sunshine could continue for most of the summer due to a weather pattern known as an 'omega block'. An Omega Block is most common in spring but can exceptionally persist for months around mid- summer. "Omega blocks... [are] an area of high pressure [that] will be sandwiched in between two lows to the east and west, and also slightly to the south," the Met Office explained. "These blocks frequently occur on the eastern edges of the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, and can lead to easterly flows to the UK. "Usually, weather fronts (which bring rain) move from west to east across the UK, but sometimes they can stay where they are, or even go from east to west, and this is usually due to a 'block'... "In terms of the weather you will get, this means that under the high pressure the weather will remain mainly dry and settled for a few days or perhaps weeks." Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore said that the recent warm spell is due to the 'Omega Block' weather pattern. As described, this occurs when the North Atlantic jet stream weakens, typically after the Stratospheric Polar Vortex breaks down following a cold winter, reports BelfastLive. While this breakdown usually happens in mid-April, it occurred earlier this year, around the second week of March. And according to the Met Éireann specialist, "the influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months." Moore further explained that this leads to "high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again" and indicated that for this summer, it implies "June, July, and August, has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures... during the summer months". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The Met Office's long-range forecast, covering Thursday to Saturday, states: "Thursday will most likely be dry with some sunshine and light winds across much of the UK. A few showers are possible, but the majority of places will remain dry. Temperatures during this period are expected to continue being above average for this time of year. "Moving into the bank holiday weekend and the following week, a shift in weather patterns is anticipated. More unsettled conditions are likely to develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. "This will bring periods of rain to many areas, potentially heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places. Drier and brighter intervals are expected between systems. Temperatures will probably be near normal or slightly above."
Dublin Live
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Dublin Live
Ireland summer scorcher as fine weather set to last due to 'Omega Block'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Met Éireann chiefs have forecasted a spell of record-breaking sunshine, predicting it will "stick around for at least another week" and possibly throughout the entire summer. Temperatures are expected to hit 25C again tomorrow, with Met Éireann indicating that the heatwave could last the whole summer, with June, July, and August set to experience "above average temperatures". Today's data from Met Éireann has shown that a third of its weather stations have already reported drought conditions this month, while a quarter are recording their warmest spring ever. Over half the stations have seen the highest mean maximum temperatures for spring on record, and most have enjoyed more sunshine in the first fortnight of May this year than the entirety of May 2024. The weekend is looking hot with forecasts of 25C for both Saturday and Sunday, 23C on Monday, and the days following are expected to range from the "mid-teens to low 20s", as per the national meteorological service, reports the Irish Mirror. Met Éireann's climatologist Paul Moore today shed light on the current sunny spell being due to the Omega Block weather pattern. The Omega Block occurs when the North Atlantic jet stream weakens, often after an early breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex following a cold winter. Typically collapsing in mid-April, this year it disintegrated a week before St Patrick's Day. Met Eireann's Moore has highlighted the long-term impact of a significant weather event, stating: "The influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months." He further explained that this leads to "high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again" which for Ireland means "June, July, and August, has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures for Ireland during the summer months". Paul noted the current sunny conditions, saying: "The current spell of fine weather is due to a blocking area of high pressure over and just to the north of Ireland. This particular type of blocking pattern is called an Omega Block because the jet stream makes a pattern that resembles the Greek letter omega." He also mentioned: "It can be a stable blocking pattern which lasts for an extended period of time and is quite common on the eastern edges of the North Atlantic and North Pacific." With the recent surge in temperatures, Irish Water has issued a call for water conservation to avoid further hosepipe bans. A spokesperson shared with the Irish Mirror: "Uisce Eireann is appealing to everyone to be mindful of their use of water as the warm dry spell looks set to continue through the weekend and into next week. This appeal comes as 22 supplies around the country are officially in drought status." Hosepipe bans loom as three counties – Donegal, Meath, and Westmeath – face Water Conservation Orders until June 16, while Galway's Inis Oirr island is already experiencing water restrictions. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Irish Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Phenomenon behind fine weather could last "2-3 months" as scorching summer ahead
Bosses at Met Éireann have promised the record-breaking sunshine will 'stick around for at least another week' and could stay all summer long. With 25C again forecast for tomorrow, they revealed that the warm temperatures also look set to stay for the rest of the summer and that June, July, August will all have 'above average temperatures'. New figures released today by Met Éireann showed that a third of its weather stations have this month already recorded drought conditions and a quarter are seeing their warmest spring on record. More than half of all the stations have had their highest ever mean maximum temperatures for spring and the majority of all stations have had more sunshine in the first two weeks of May this year than all of May 2024. Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday are forecast to reach 25C, Monday is due to be 23C, and the following days' temperatures are set for the 'mid-teens to low 20s', according to the national weather service. Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore today explained that the recent weather is all because of the Omega Block weather pattern. The Omega Block emerges when the North Atlantic jet stream is weak and this happens when a weather phenomenon called the Stratospheric Polar Vortex breaks down early after a cold winter. It normally breaks down in mid-April, but this year it happened a week before St Patrick's Day. Met Eireann's Moore said: 'The influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months.' He added that it causes 'high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again' and for this summer it means 'June, July, and August, has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures for Ireland during the summer months'. Paul said: 'The current spell of fine weather is due to a blocking area of high pressure over and just to the north of Ireland. This particular type of blocking pattern is called an Omega Block because the jet stream makes a pattern that resembles the Greek letter omega.' He added: 'It can be a stable blocking pattern which lasts for an extended period of time and is quite common on the eastern edges of the North Atlantic and North Pacific.' As a result of the recent hot spell, Irish Water is warning households to conserve water to prevent more hosepipe bans. A spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: 'Uisce Eireann is appealing to everyone to be mindful of their use of water as the warm dry spell looks set to continue through the weekend and into next week. This appeal comes as 22 supplies around the country are officially in drought status.' Hosepipe bans are threatened with three counties – Donegal, Meath, and Westmeath – already under Water Conservation Orders until June 16 and restrictions are in place on Galway's Inis Oirr island.
