The highest daily rainfall total for 80 years was recorded at a southern Met Eireann station on Christmas Day, according to new figures.
The deluge happened at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford as 58.9mm of rainfall bucketed down, the most since records began in 1941, according to the forecaster’s monthly report.
Elsewhere Storm Barra was the standout weather event last month as Met Eireann issued several Orange Wind warnings and severe gusts of up to 135 km/h battered the country.
The month was mild with low-pressure dominating the first and final thirds of the month, bringing above average rainfall.
The majority of monthly rainfall totals were above their Long-Term Average (LTA) and ranged from 79% or 99mm at Claremorris, Co Mayo to 166% and 182mm at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford.
Wind speeds picked up and gales were reported on 13 days during the month with strong gusts reported on December 4, 7, 8, 12, 24, 25 and 29.
Mean wind speeds reached storm force on Tuesday, Decebember 7 during storm Barra.
The highest gust on that day was 73 knots (135 km/h) reported at Sherkin Island, Co Cork.
Elsewhere, all mean air temperatures across the country were above their Long-Term Average (LTA).
The highest air temperature recorded was 14.6C at both Casement Aerodrome and Phoenix park, Co Dublin (6.3C above their LTA) on Friday, December 31.
Meanwhile, the lowest air temperature of -2.1C was found at Mullingar, Co Westmeath (3.9°C below its LTA) on Monday, December 13.
