This year was the warmest on record, Met Éireann has confirmed.
According to its annual report, the average temperature in Ireland in 2023 was greater than 11C for the first time.
2022 held the previous record for the warmest year and was 0.06C warmer than 2007.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Met Éireann Climatologist Keith Lambkin said 2023 was a “remarkable year in climate terms”.
June this year was the warmest ever recorded while March and July were the wettest.
Mr Lambkin said: “Never before have we had a year where we have broken records for two months having the wettest months ever.”
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He said 23 of the last 24 years have been “well above normal” for high temperatures with the only expectation being 2010 due to the ‘Big Freeze’.
While there has been a steady and significant increase in warming globally, he said the rate of warming in Ireland is similar to the rest of the world.
Mr Lambkin said the El Niño effect is impacting the temperature in Ireland.
El Niño, which is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere, last occurred in 2018-2019
Mr Lambkin said: “That El Niño effect is expected to stay with us till the early part of this year likely until mid-next year, so that extra heater effect is going to add to global warming again next year.”
He added 2024 is expected to be another warm year on average.
