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Met Éireann says September 2026 was provisionally Ireland’s second‑warmest September on record, with a national average temperature narrowly below the 2021 high. The month combined above‑average warmth with slightly higher than normal rainfall and reduced sunshine in many areas.
Temperatures close to a record
Across the country the mean temperature for September reached 15.22°C, just 0.05°C lower than the record set in 2021. That places the month provisionally as the second‑warmest September in the observational record.
Compared with climate normals, September was notably warm. Temperatures were about 1.62°C above the 1991–2020 average and 2.29°C higher than the 1961–1990 average.
Rainfall, cloud and wind
Rainfall was also above average. The national total for the month was 116.8mm, equivalent to 117% of the 1991–2020 normal.
In the historical ranking, September 2026 provisionally sits as the 38th wettest on record. It was wetter than August 2026 but remained drier than September 2025. Sunshine amounts were generally below average and four days during the month recorded gusty conditions.
Local extremes and station records
Warm spells pushed daytime readings into the mid‑20s Celsius on several occasions. The highest temperature reported was 25.2°C at Phoenix Park in Dublin on 14 September.
Met Éireann notes that eight observing stations recorded their warmest September on record, while a further five matched previous September records.
What the pattern suggests
The agency attributes the month’s weather to a predominantly mild Atlantic airflow that brought frequent rain and showers. It also highlights a broader recent trend: six of the ten warmest Septembers have occurred since 2001, and none of the ten coolest Septembers fall within that period.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| National average temperature | 15.22°C |
| Total rainfall (national) | 116.8mm (117% of 1991–2020 average) |
| Highest recorded temperature | 25.2°C at Phoenix Park (14 September) |
Met Éireann describes these figures as provisional pending final quality checks, but they reinforce the prominence of unusually warm Septembers in recent decades.
