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Soil moisture deficits to April 8th are still quite similar as of this point last year away from the north of Ireland.
2020
Dublin Airport: 27mm
Malin Head: 13mm
Valentia Observatory: 10mm
2021
Dublin Airport: 24mm
Malin Head: 1mm
Valentia Observatory: 10mm
2020
Dublin Airport: 27mm
Malin Head: 13mm
Valentia Observatory: 10mm
2021
Dublin Airport: 24mm
Malin Head: 1mm
Valentia Observatory: 10mm
No hiding the fact that it has been a pretty dry spring so far for a few fair regions but a bit early to come to conclusions if we're going a similar form to what last spring offered as both April and May 2020 were exceptionally dry with long-term records set.
No sign of a full on Atlantic onslaught so there's that but probably the most notable difference between last year and this year is the temperature. We're likely to see a fair increase in the temperature later next week going by models but mainly closer to average..
than anything warm as compared to this time last year when we were seeing the first time getting into the 20s so evaporative rates not likely to be quite as high.
Is it unusual to be dry at this point in the year? Not really no. The February to June period is the driest part of the year on average for Ireland due to the reduction in westerly airstreams as continental anticyclones advect their influence westward..
before the inevitable 'return of the westerlies' through the latter part of the summer as pressure rises over the continent and falls over the ocean. Of course, this is on average rather than a rule as we have had very westerly springs before.
