March 2025 was Ireland’s warmest in over a decade, Met Éireann confirms
Alongside being exceptionally mild, March 2025 was also very dry, with rainfall levels significantly below average across the country. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
March 2025 has been officially recorded as the warmest March in Ireland since 2012, Met Éireann has confirmed, with an average national temperature of 8.55C.
This is 1.42C above the 1991-2020 long-term average (LTA) and 2.09C above the 1961-1990 LTA.
The month ranks as the eighth warmest March on record since 1900.
The warmest March remains that of 1957, which saw an average temperature of 9.85C, while the coldest occurred in 1919, with a chilling 3.90C.
Alongside being exceptionally mild, March 2025 was also very dry, with rainfall levels significantly below average across the country.
Provisional data indicates that the month's average rainfall was just 36.2mm—only 38% of the 1991-2020 LTA and 35% of the 1981-2010 LTA.
The wettest March in Irish history occurred recently in 2023, whereas the driest was recorded in 1944.
March 2025 was very dry nationwide, with all weather stations reporting below-average rainfall.
Several locations saw their driest March on record, including Dunsany, Co Meath (11.2mm) and Mace Head, Co Galway.
Ballyhaise, Co Cavan experienced its driest March since 1953, Gurteen, Co Tipperary since 1961, and Dublin Airport since 1990.
Some locations recorded dry spells of 15 to 22 days.
The highest daily rainfall was observed at Cork Airport on March 21st, with 25.4mm.
The number of rain days ranged from just seven in Oak Park, Co Carlow to 18 in Markree, Co Sligo, and Knock Airport, Co Mayo.
Temperatures
The warmest day was March 31, when Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon recorded 19.0C — the highest March temperature at any station since 2017.
Thirteen weather stations recorded their warmest March since 2012, while 12 stations experienced their warmest March since 2017.
March 2025 was also a sunny month, particularly in the east.
Sunshine levels exceeded their LTAs across the country, with Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin, recording 141.3 hours.
Dublin Airport had the highest total sunshine for the month at 154.4 hours. The sunniest day occurred on March 19, when Belmullet, Co Mayo, enjoyed 11.3 hours of sunshine.
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