Records of rainfall and hours of sunshine were also set this month. It also confirmed a record-high April temperature for Ireland, recorded in Athenry, Co Galway, on Wednesday, April 30, with a temperature of 25.9C.
Paul Moore, climatologist for Met Éireann said: “April was quite a record-setting month in regards to temperatures”.
“It was unusual because the first half of the month was very dry up until about the 12th or 13th and then we had a really wet spell for a couple of weeks where there were quite heavy rainfall events. Towards the end of the month, for the last four days, we got strong high pressure over the country with some warm air. So that really pushed up the temperatures, particularly for the last day of the month.”
7 Day Weather Forecast: 28th April – 4th May
Looking ahead to the summer months, Mr Moore predicts more temperature records to be set. He said: “As the global temperatures continue to rise, we see a rise in our own temperatures. The likelihood is that more temperature records will be set as we go forward.”
“Last summer was a cooler than average summer, so you can always have an unusual season that goes against the trends. But in general, due to climate change, temperatures are on the rise.”
Temperatures and Sunshine
The average national temperature for April 2025 was 10.6 degrees, which is 1.72 °C above the most recent 1991-2020 long-term average.
The month’s highest temperature was reported at Athenry with a temperature of 25.9 degrees. This is the highest daily temperature recorded in Ireland for the month.
Mr Moore added: “There were 17 stations that broke their April maximum temperature record”. These included Newport, Co Mayo; Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon; Valentia, Co Kerry; Claremorris, Co Mayo and Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
Aside from Athenry, all mean air temperatures across the country were above their long-term average. The mean temperature measured at Shannon Airport was 11.9 degrees, the second warmest April on record behind 2011.
Along with high temperatures, hours of sunshine were above average everywhere. The highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this month was 14.2 hours at Dublin Airport on Wednesday, April 30.
Rainfall
But, it was a month of contrasts with the first half of the month dry and plenty of rainfall in the midlands, south and east during the second half of the month.
The month’s wettest day was recorded at Roches Point, Co Cork with 44.5 mm on Good Friday, April 18. This is the second-highest daily rainfall total for April on record, behind April 2019.
The number of days with 10.0 mm or more of rainfall ranged from 2 days at Moore Park, Co Cork to 5 days at both Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford and Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon.
Shannon Airport, Co Clare and Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon had their wettest April since 2009, while Phoenix Park, Co Dublin and Dunsany, Co Meath had their wettest April since 2012.
In particular, Shannon Airport, Co Clare had its wettest April day since 1978. Mullingar, Co Westmeath also had its wettest April day since 1991.
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