Ireland was battered by eight named storms last year and there was higher than average rainfall, temperatures and sunshine, it emerged yesterday.
Met Eireann released their provisional annual report on Wednesday as it issued a snow warning for the entire country ahead
Meanwhile, Met Éireann, who released their provisional annual report, said that 2020 was the tenth consecutive year with temperatures above normal.
Forecasters said Storms Brendan, Ciara, Dennis, Jorge, Ellen, Aiden, Francis and Bella lashed the country and gale force winds led to flooding in many areas.
There were five months last year where the country was rocked by storm force winds which was the same as 2019 and one month more than in 2018.
A spokesman said: “February was an exceptionally wet and windy month with a strong North Atlantic jetstream steering numerous storm systems close to, or over Ireland.
Storm Ciara hit Ireland on February 9 and 10, Storm Dennis on February 15 and 16th and Storm Jorge on the 29 of February and March 1.
Most weather stations were saturated with Claremorris in Co Mayo experiencing its wettest year on record during the past 15 years with 2051.7mm of the wet stuff.
Meanwhile, the lowest annual total was in the Phoenix Park, Co Dublin where there was 748.9 mm of rainfall.
The number of very wet days ranged from 17 days at Phoenix Park, Co Dublin to 68 days at Newport, Co Mayo.
It was the wettest year since 2009 at both Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry and Sherkin Island, Co Cork, while there was the highest amount of rainfall since 2016 at 18 other stations.
The spring and early summer brought warm conditions, but June and July were essentially a wash-out.
The Met Éireann spokesman added: “April and May were very dry, sunny and warm months with drought conditions in many places.
“Blocking high pressure steered a weakened Jetstream away from Ireland.
“The pattern change at the beginning of June led to an unseasonably strong Jetstream dominating the weather for the months of June and July.
“This brought above-average rainfall for both months, and near to, or below-average temperatures, while August was warm and wet.”
“An active Jetstream in the final third on the month brought two named storms, Storm Ellen on August 19th and 20th and Storm Francis on the 24th and 25th.”
Forecasters reported that nearly all mean air temperatures were above their long-term average.
Met Éireann said the year’s highest temperature was reported was 27.1C at Newport, Co Mayo on Monday June 1, while the lowest recorded was -6.1C at Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Sunday, January 19.
Forecasters said the first two and a half weeks of September were warm with high pressure and the final 10 of the month were cool with low pressure dominating.
Sunshine totals for the year were highest at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford with 1641 hours and lowest at Belmullet, Co Mayo with 1252 hours.
Meanwhile, the highest number of daily sunshine hours recorded this year was 15.6 hours at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford on Monday 1st June.
The number of dull days ranged from 34 days at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 115 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.
