Burren Climate

The climate of the Burren is best described as marine-temperate, dominated by the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and in particular the North Atlantic drift. The climate is characterised by mild winters, cool summers, strong winds, and year-round rainfall. Average figures for the temperature, sunshine, rainfall and wind conditions are given below, based on a 30-year (1961-1990) average recorded from Shannon Airport, the nearest Met station to the Burren.

Temperature
Mean Daily Temp.erature (Celsius): 10.1
(Hottest - June 15.7, Coldest - January 5.4)

Mean Daily Maximum (Celsius):  13.5
(Hottest - July 19.4, Coldest - January 8.2)

Mean Daily Minimum (Celsius): 6.8
(Hottest - July 12, Coldest - January 2.6)

Absolute Maximum (Celsius): 31.6 (June)

Absolute Minimum (Celsius):  -11.2 (January)

Sunshine
Mean Daily Sunshine (hours): 3.48
(Max - May 5.77, Min –December 1.42)

Maximum Daily Sunshine (hours): 15.8 (June)
Mean Number of Days with no Sun: 62

Rainfall
Mean Annual Rainfall (mm): 926.8 
(Wettest- December 99.6, Driest - April 55.5)

Mean number of days with >0.2mm rain:  214
Mean number of days with >1mm rain:  160
Mean number of days with >5mm rain:  66

General Conditions
Mean Annual Wind Speed (knots): 9.8
(Windiest – Feb. 11.1, Calmest August 8.6)

Mean Number of days with snow/sleet: 10.9
(Most snow – January 3.4 days)

Mean Number of days with hail: 21.7 (
Most hail – March 4.3 days)

Mean Number of days with thunder: 6.3
(Worst thunder - January 0.9 days avg).

Mean Number of days with fog: 31.8
(Foggiest month – January 4.1)

For climate information contact
Met Éireann.
The Irish Meteorological Service
Glasnevin Hill
Dublin 9
Tel: +353 1 8064200
Fax: +353 1 8064247
www.met.ie/