IF this week’s downpours felt unseasonably heavy it is because they certainly were.
The past seven days have seen 73.2mm of rain fall at Cork Airport Weather Station, a 402%increase on the week prior with a whopping 41.3mm falling on Monday.
In fact, the entire monthly period up until July 6 saw 71mm of rain fall at Cork Airport, while only 43.6mm fell in the same period in 2014 with Roches Point also reporting an increase from 18.8mm in June to July last year to 42.1mm in 2015.
Aidan Murphy, Chief Meteorological Officer with Met Eireann says that while the rest of the country has experienced the “typical Irish summer”, this month Cork has seen “quite a lot of rainfall.”
“We would expect 17 or 18mms on average in July.
“The 41.3mm of rain experienced on Monday would be expected approximately once a year.”
“It wouldn’t be unprecidented but it would certainly be heavy.”
Fingers are crossed for a more settled lead up to the weekend with the forecast showing unsettled weather but low rainfall levels for the coming days.
Today is set to hit 17 degrees with cloudy and sunny spells with temperatures remaining steady until the weekend.
“Thursday will have lots of sunny spells and the odd shower
“Friday will be warm and humid followed by a fresher weekend.”
Meanwhile heavy rain has prompted Cork County Council to put up no swimming notices in three popular beaches in West Cork. Bathing has been prohibitted at Warren, Owenahincha and Incydoney beaches. Samples were taken of the water at the three locations yesterday and will be examined for e.coli. The tests will be known tomorrow.