Winter 2025/2026 was mild across the country, making it the sixth consecutive season with "above average temperatures", according to Met Éireann.

The latest seasonal climate report from the national meteorological service showed that December and February were warmer than average, while January was cooler than average.

Met Éireann explained: “A south shifted jet stream brought a wet winter to the midlands south and east, while the north-west escaped with drier than average conditions.

The final third was cool, dry and less windy “when high pressure to the north became established”, the meteorological service said.

This led into a cold and mostly dry beginning to January, with spells of crisp winter sunshine and widespread frost at night before low pressure took control towards the end of the first week.

Met Éireann said that the second half of January and first two thirds of February saw "prolonged spells of heavy rain, concentrated over the south and east of the country”.

Rainfall

The majority of seasonal rainfall totals were “above their 1991-2020 Long-Term Average (LTA)”, according to Met Éireann.

Percentage of seasonal rainfall values ranged from 79% (279.8mm) at Finner, Co. Donegal to 174% (seasonal rainfall total of 509.1mm) at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford (its wettest winter since 2016 and second wettest since records began in 1942). 

Met Éireann said: “Along with Johnstown Castle, five other stations, mostly in the east, had their wettest winter since 2016.”

The number of rain days ranged from 61 days at both Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin and Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin to 77 days at Newport, Co. Mayo.

Temperature

All mean air temperatures across the country were above their LTA for the season, Met Éireann said.

“Deviations from mean air temperature ranged from 0.1° at Belmullet, Co. Mayo and Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry (6.9°, 7.8° mean temperature respectively) to 1.0°C (6.5°C mean temperature) at Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin,” it said.

All stations reported air and ground frost during the season.

The number of days with ground frost ranged from 19 days at both Mace Head, Co. Galway and Sherkin Island, Co Cork to 52 days at Markree, Co. Sligo.

Sunshine

Percentage of LTA sunshine values were variable (where available) across the country, ranging from 89% (156.6 hours) at Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin to 100% (167.5 hours) at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare.

Seasonal sunshine totals ranged from 128.6 hours at Belmullet, Co. Mayo to 182.0 at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford.

Wind

Seasonal mean wind speeds ranged from 5.8 knots (10.7km/h) at Moore Park, Co. Cork to 17.4 knots (32.2km/h) at Malin Head, Co. Donegal, according to Met Éireann.

Gales were reported on numerous days, with strong gales during Storm Bram and Storm Chandra.

The number of days with gales ranged from zero days at a few stations to 24 days at Malin Head, Co. Donegal.

Four stations in the west had their lowest mean wind for winter since 2011.