Climate - Rainfall - Rain Gauge

Rainfall in Ireland

Most of the eastern half of the country gets between 750 and 1000 (mm) of rainfall in the year. Rainfall in the west generally averages between 1000 and 1400 mm. In many mountainous districts rainfall exceeds 2000mm per year. The wettest months, in almost all areas are December and January. April is the driest month generally across the country. However, in many southern parts, June is the driest. Hail and snow contribute relatively little to the precipitation measured.

How often does it rain?

The general impression is that it rains quite a lot of the time in Ireland, but two out of three hourly observations will not report any measurable rainfall. The average number of wet days (days 1mm or more of rain) ranges from about 150 days a year along the east and south east coasts, to about 225 days a year in parts of the west.

How heavy is the rain?

Unlike the rain in many other countries, especially in the tropics, average hourly rainfall amounts in Ireland are quite low, ranging from 1 to 2mm. Short-term rates can of course be much higher: for example, an hourly total of 10mm is not uncommon and totals of 15 to 20mm in an hour may be expected to occur once in 5 years. Hourly totals exceeding 25mm are rare in this country and when they do occur they are usually associated with heavy thunderstorms.

Information on the frequency of heavy rainfalls is often required by engineers, architects and others, usually in connection with design criteria for water management or drainage schemes. A depth duration frequency model allows for the estimation of point rainfall frequencies for a range of durations for any location in Ireland. 

Link to the Met Éireann information on rainfall click here.

Write a Poem 2012

Sunflowers Growth Update

Due to the sunny and wet weather conditions over the last number of days our sunflowers have really started to sprout. We like the way the shell of the seed stays on the top of some of the sprouts.

William the Woodpigeon

William welcomed all the children back to school after the Easter holidays. He was spotted by children in the Senior Room just before before breaktime today. Read more about woodpigeons on Birdwatch Ireland. 

Sunflowers Easter Growth

Some of the little seeds are showing their first signs of growth. Click here to play an interactive game on plants.

                                                  

If you would like to read more about Eric Carle who wrote The Tiny Seed follow the link here. To find out more about the painting of the sunflowers click here.

Oxford Owl eBooks

We read books from the Oxford Reading Tree Series. We have series such as Read with Biff, Chip and Kipper, Songbirds Phonics, Oxford Reading Tree, Treetops and Traditional Tales.

There is a website called Oxford Owl. Some of the books can be read as eBooks online. Some we have not read and others we have. The site is full of resources for all reading ages.

Here are some of the eBooks

• The Three Bears
• How many?
• Find the Shapes
• What time is it?
• The Snowman
• In the Garden
• Gran's New Blue Shoes

Songbirds Phonics

• The Ox and the Yak - Stage 2 Green
• Queen Anneena's Feast - Stage 4 Red

Traditional Tales

• The Little Red Hen - Stage 1 Lilac
• The Big Carrot - Stage 1+ Pink
• The King and His Wish - Stage 2 Red
• Chicken Licken - Stage 3 Yellow
• Tom, Dad and Colin - Stage 4 Blue
• The Magic Paintbrush - Stage 5 Green
• The Frog Prince - Stage 6 Orange
• Rumpelstiltskin - Stage 7 Turquoise
• Finn MacCool and the Giants Causeway - Stage 8 Purple
• East of the Moon, West of the Moon, Stage 9 Gold]