Thursday, 3 July 2025

Cool region Pinot Noir



Despite the heat, it's still relatively cool in Ireland compared to mainland Europe.  I was right to try Pinot Noir, another short-season grape which was made fickle by growing it in warmer regions. If Pinot Noir can do well in Ontario, we should be able to have some success with it in Mayo!

We haven't had a crop of Pinot Noir yet, but when we do, I will treat it delicately. Pinot Noir's success stems from its unique ability to express terroir, its elegant and complex flavour profile, and its versatility in food pairing. The grape is known for its delicate aromas of red fruits, earthiness, and floral notes, as well as its light to medium body and silky tannins. Pinot Noir's popularity also comes from its ability to showcase the characteristics of the vineyard in which it's grown, making each bottle a unique reflection of its origin. While Pinot Noir is prized for its quality, it is also notoriously difficult to grow, requiring specific cool climates and careful vineyard management. 

Pinot Noir thrives in cool to moderate climates with consistent temperatures throughout the growing season. This helps the grapes ripen slowly and develop nuanced flavours, avoiding overly tart characteristics. Wine publications advise that the ideal temperature range for Pinot Noir during the growing season is generally between 55°F and 60°F (13°C to 16°C). Adequate sunshine is needed for proper ripening, but excessive heat can be detrimental. The best Pinot Noir regions often have a balance of sunshine and cool temperatures. 

Ireland's climate, while often wetter and cooler than traditional Pinot Noir regions, falls within the range of what is considered suitable for this grape, especially as temperatures warm due to climate change. The Old Roots Vineyard in Co Wexford has successfully grown Pinot Noir among other varieties. 


Wednesday, 2 July 2025

A heat dome continues to dominate Europe

 


This heat dome is incredible so early in summer. France has 16 regions on red heatwave alert today, and the Eiffel Tower is closed. Portugal and Spain have already broken their June records with 46°C. Typically, heat builds over July and August. This is a reminder that we are entering a new climate era. 

Spain and England have recorded their hottest June ever, as scorching temperatures continue to grip Europe.  Spain's weather service Aemet said the "extremely hot" June, with an average temperature of 23.6°C (74.5°F), has pulverised records, surpassing the normal average for July and August. In England, the Met Office said June's mean temperature of 16.9°C set a new record for that month, while the UK as a whole saw its second warmest June since records began in 1884.

Mainland Portugal experienced a record daily temperature for June of 46.6°C. The Mediterranean hit a record 30C. 

On Monday, the highest daily UK temperature was recorded at Heathrow Airport in London at 33.1°C. Meanwhile, Wimbledon recorded a temperature of 32.9°C, the tennis tournament's hottest opening day on record. On Tuesday, the UK recorded 34.7°C in St James's Park in London, making it the hottest day of the year so far. 

June 2025 was the fourth warmest on record in Ireland, according to the latest monthly climate statement from Met Éireann. June 2025’s average temperature stood at 15.10°C, the fourth highest figure on record going back to 1900. Compared to the long-term average for 1961 to 1991, last month was 1.88°C warmer. It was 1.42°C above the long-term average for the period of 1991 to 2020.

Spring 2025 was the warmest on record for Ireland, with the highest sunshine totals recorded at most stations for the period of March, April and May. As a result of the warmer, sunnier and calmer conditions, a marine heatwave developed off the west coast of Ireland in April and May with sea surface temperatures reaching over 2°C warmer than average in some coastal areas, and up to 4°C warmer than average in offshore areas.

Our climate is definitely undergoing rapid transformation. I'm glad we planted grapes. 

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Rain falling down on me




We had more than 29 mm of rain yesterday. It was bucketing all day. Fortunately, I had a lovely 71st birthday the day before. Today was spectacularly gorgeous, and we had a nice lunch in town by the Clock Tower with a visitor to Westport, a friend of a friend. Right now, our weather is ideal. A day of rain followed by several days of sunshine. Temperatures are hovering around 20C during the day. 

On the continent, the weather has been abysmal. An unprecedented heat wave is smothering many countries. France, Spain and Portugal are dealing with an extreme heat wave, with temperatures soaring to 40°C plus in many regions. A deadly “heat dome” has descended on Europe, with one tourist dead, wildfires melting roads in Italy, and temperatures in Spain expected to hit 47°C this weekend. Much of Europe has been experiencing drought since April. They say much of Spain is heading for desertification. 

Climate change makes these heatwave events up to 10x more likely. This is not normal, this is not "summer" - the global thermostat is being turned up rapidly.  The European heatwave will bring temperatures as much as 10°C to 15°C above average. This is the difference between normal summer heat and a period of particularly high temperatures. The ongoing marine heatwave in the Mediterranean Sea is one of the largest marine anomalies observed globally.

Thankfully, Ireland has been spared this time. Our weather is particularly pleasant at the moment. 






Dark red shows areas more than 5C above the seasonal average




Monthly values for NEWPORT up to 30-jun-2025

Total rainfall in millimetres for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
2025105.0112.459.3102.888.2153.8n/a621.5
2024125.7197.5152.5119.448.880.780.8257.544.1150.7143.3173.71574.7
2023183.291.6188.4121.148.577.9206.8139.8142.4144.7209.6293.81847.8
202298.8260.467.884.0107.0148.059.2104.197.3233.9187.5154.61602.6
LTA166.4146.6129.098.099.293.5111.6133.0131.8153.9180.9190.71634.6

Mean temperature in degrees Celsius for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
20256.07.18.911.614.014.9n/a10.4
20246.17.97.99.913.112.914.914.913.611.89.28.210.9
20236.68.07.69.913.317.414.915.815.211.98.77.911.4
20227.27.18.09.912.613.815.916.2n/a12.29.45.210.7
LTA6.36.47.59.512.014.215.515.513.811.18.56.710.6

Mean 10cm soil temperature for NEWPORT at 0900 UTC

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
20255.16.08.110.915.416.3n/a10.3
20244.26.56.59.513.614.415.815.413.711.28.97.210.6
20235.26.86.69.113.718.616.316.314.711.17.66.711.1
20226.26.26.39.313.214.816.816.6n/a11.58.44.410.4
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Global Solar Radiation in Joules/cm2 for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
202573081195525430446156450545465n/a199278
2024724812401230323968547333503664963238203314511662865864121326686
2023624510639214293727755732584734179736857293381622583264411326749
2022631110756333994055551569472464843951169n/a1598878696167319468
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Potential Evapotranspiration (mm) for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
202512.922.039.570.1100.376.4n/a321.2
202415.418.236.056.974.776.780.960.849.027.614.215.6526.0
202314.320.933.056.483.3100.670.164.450.126.114.214.7548.1
202213.723.047.260.677.776.080.482.0n/a27.217.29.2514.2
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Evaporation (mm) for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
202517.130.555.397.0139.0107.8n/a446.7
202420.225.451.983.7104.9109.8112.688.367.837.518.420.0740.5
202318.828.247.681.6118.2137.199.589.167.835.518.419.0760.8
202217.932.466.586.8114.5109.2111.1113.2n/a37.022.011.4722.0
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Degree Days Below 15.5 Degree Celsius for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20252942352051328249N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
202429322123416991894541771171912281796
202327521024617185183926531182032371681
202225623423517197633028N/A103185320N/A

Notes on the Data

Evaporation and PE data are calculated using Penman/Monteith formulae.
The ‘LTA’ (referred to within a table) is average for the climatological long-term-average (LTA) reference period 1981-2010.
Data updated daily at Mid-day.
To view the Weather Events for Public Works Contracts data, select a station first, then click the link just below the map.



Monthly values for NEWPORT up to 29-jun-2025

Total rainfall in millimetres for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
2025105.0112.459.3102.888.2129.7597.4
2024125.7197.5152.5119.448.880.780.8257.544.1150.7143.3173.71574.7
2023183.291.6188.4121.148.577.9206.8139.8142.4144.7209.6293.81847.8
202298.8260.467.884.0107.0148.059.2104.197.3233.9187.5154.61602.6
LTA166.4146.6129.098.099.293.5111.6133.0131.8153.9180.