What is the Weather like in Ireland?

Aran Sweaters Direct on Jun 10, 2016

Question: I'm travelling to Ireland in June / July / August ... November ... What will the weather be like? Answer: It will probably be raining! There is a reason why Ireland is famed for its lush, green scenery -- mother nature provides it a generous, year-round water sprinkler :)

The climate in Ireland is generally damp and mild. Summer daytime temperatures typically range between the low 50s Farenheit / low teens Celsius to the high 60s Fahrenheit / about 20 Celsius or thereabouts. Temperatures usually creep higher than this at some points in the summer, and you may even get a week or two of temperatures that go into 70s or even 80s Fahrenheit (low to high 20s Celsius).

The best strategy, nevertheless, is to expect mild days sprinkled with rain showers, and treat anything else as pleasant bonus. I should stress that summer rain usually falls in intermittent showers (literally dropped from a single cloud), rather than as continuous rainfall. Irish people know that rain showers usually pass quickly, and tend to tolerate them. This may be why, in summer, tourists seem to be more prepared for rain (wearing waterproof clothes) than locals. Skies are rarely cloud-free in Ireland, and a brisk wind blows in from the Atlantic, particularly nearer the coast.

Ireland is a relatively small island; nowhere in Ireland is no more than a couple of hours drive of the sea. But when you are on a beach, or a coastal walk -- somewhere right up against the Atlantic, like the Giant's Causeway or the Cliffs of Moher -- you may notice a choppy, sometimes vicious -- and chilly -- breeze, that isn't detectable just a kilometre or less inland.

Winter in Ireland

Irish winters don't get too cold, yet are cool and damp. Strong winds blow from the Atlantic. Since the Irish climate is mild and doesn't experience extremes, a winter can pass with little or no snow but, as with Irish summers, nothing is predictable or guaranteed. Two of the largest snowfalls in living memory have fallen in the last decade. See also: what to pack for a trip to Ireland.

Average Monthly Temperatures

These are average temperatures only. For example, average highs in July are 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but on certain days they may reach the 80s, or drop to the 50s.