Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Provisionally Ireland’s wettest July on record



Following on from the warmest June on record for Ireland, July 2023 is set to be the wettest July on record according to provisional data*.

Ireland had 217% of its 1981-2010 Long Term Average (LTA) rainfall in July 2023. In Newport, we had more than twice the amount of rainfall in the LTA. July 2023 also had more than 4 times the amount of rain observed in July 2022 and more than twice that observed in July 2021. The previous wettest July was in 2009 with 202% of the LTA.

Over the past 12 months, Ireland had its wettest October on record in 2022, its wettest March on record earlier this year, and now its wettest July on record.

It was cooler than average as well, which does not bode well for grape ripening although they are looking good. 

What's worse, Met Eireann has just released a long-range forecast that says we are going to get weeks of rain in August. 

Monthly values for NEWPORT up to 01-aug-2023

Total rainfall in millimetres for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
2023183.291.6188.4121.148.577.9206.88.6926.1
202298.8260.467.884.0107.0148.059.2104.197.3233.9187.5154.61602.6
2021225.6147.6141.145.6113.564.159.7155.6137.0265.7183.3186.61725.4
2020139.5342.8178.225.554.7164.5187.9137.9153.4228.0206.6232.72051.7
LTA166.7126.5141.296.894.789.7100.9132.5131.5176.0170.4180.21607.1

Mean temperature in degrees Celsius for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
20236.68.07.69.913.317.414.915.411.1
20227.27.18.09.912.613.815.916.2n/a12.29.45.210.7
20215.06.77.99.010.413.317.516.415.211.99.37.610.9
20207.26.06.611.012.813.814.416.013.810.59.16.110.6
LTA6.16.17.39.011.513.815.415.413.510.88.36.510.3

Mean 10cm soil temperature for NEWPORT at 0900 UTC

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
20235.26.86.69.113.718.616.3n/a10.9
20226.26.26.39.313.214.816.816.6n/a11.58.44.410.4
20213.65.06.88.210.914.317.916.315.211.38.66.610.4
20205.74.75.49.713.014.814.916.313.79.58.05.110.1
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Global Solar Radiation in Joules/cm2 for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
202362451063921429372775573258473417971486233078
2022631110756333994055551569472464843951169n/a1598878696167319468
2021662013347203704569455690454884945540490224131635872353780326940
2020626310808245454619258476435374021540555255581848763195209326164
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Potential Evapotranspiration (mm) for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
202314.320.933.056.483.3100.670.12.4381.0
202213.723.047.260.677.776.080.482.0n/a27.217.29.2514.2
20217.622.930.762.976.370.787.867.538.325.114.114.6518.5
202017.621.935.070.291.672.966.266.442.728.113.610.4536.6
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Evaporation (mm) for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual
202318.828.247.681.6118.2137.199.53.3534.3
202217.932.466.586.8114.5109.2111.1113.2n/a37.022.011.4722.0
202110.932.145.489.9111.2102.0117.293.552.134.718.619.1726.7
202022.431.951.898.9130.8104.894.392.759.138.818.113.6757.2
LTAn/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Degree Days Below 15.5 Degree Celsius for NEWPORT

YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2023275210246171851839N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
202225623423517197633028N/A103185320N/A
2021325247236200167792023401141872451883
2020257276275143111735531711561932911935

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.


*Over the next few months, the rainfall totals from our network of voluntary observers will be returned and quality controlled, once this process is finalised, we run the analysis again, and will then confirm if July 2023 was indeed the wettest July on record (record length 83 years).

**Based on digitised data back to 1940

The final stretch


Yesterday, the lads built and installed the stairs to the top of the prep room where we plan to have a storage area. They also built Alex's workshop bench. Today, they were tackling the linoleum but the glue was off so they constructed the rail on the loft and the racks for the windsurfers, etc. The linoleum and the door knob/latch will be their last task. They'll be done tomorrow. 

After that, we have the electrics, the sink and water to install, as well as the winery equipment once that arrives. And that's it. We will start moving more stuff in on Friday. 





In the evening, we attended a pre-wedding pig roast at the Kenright's house, which was where Kirstin used to live and Alex before her. They've done a very nice job of redecorating. The water was over the road so many of the guests were brought in by boat, making it a true Ross experience. The weather held up well until about 8 or 9 pm when the skies opened up accompanied by lightning and thunder, so naturally we did not see the supermoon rise. The pig, prepared by the Quinns, was delicious. It was a lovely party.

High tide

Cold wind and rain showers

The happy couple and her parents

The pig

Our old sail was used as a rain tent

Nightfall, but no supermoon

Linoleum ready for pasting

Sasha working away on wall racks

The guard rail on the loft looks beautiful


Monday, 31 July 2023

Today's progress


Alex and I left home this morning bound for Ross House for a visit with the men but with a long shopping list in hand to follow. More paint, linoleum, wood preservative and propane, stainless steel sink and wash down faucets. We went to Castlebar first, got the sink, then came back to the coop. Albany and the flooring shop next door were next. Stress! The weather was shite, so we wrapped the linoleum in plastic and hoped for the best. We needed a trowel for the glue but PJ Kelly's would be closed for lunch. 

Meanwhile, the lads built the shelves in the shed. So solid. They are soooo good. After lunch, Alex started painting inside the prep room. I joined him to do the edging and screw holes a bit later. We finished before 6 pm. That means the linoleum can go in tomorrow

Tomorrow they build the workbench and help us with the linoleum. God bless our Ukrainian lads. Such dedicated workers. 

We also view an apartment for sale on the Quay and help the Kenrights with their pig roast scheduled for tomorrow evening. The Full Sturgeon Moon rises on Tuesday, Aug. 1, and then the month closes out with the Full Blue Moon on Aug. 30. There's a spring high tide at 6 pm so it should be interesting. Their daughter is getting married this week in Westport and they are racing to get everything done in time. 

RTV, propane heater, and old foresail to the rescue. 

Linoleum (25 feet of it - it's heavy)

Sink, paint, glue.

Shelves


Painted wine prep room



Very lovely.