2011 Summer coolest in 50 years

The Summer just gone has not been notable for anything really apart from the fact that it has been a very cool one.

Temperatures for each of the 3 months are over a degree below what would normally be expected in Ireland.

The last days of August have not improved the trend and September is not looking like causing much of an improvement either.

So what has caused the Summer to be so cool?

Some would say that the number of volcanoes has an affect on it but this is not always true.

The main consensus points to the Southerly point of the Jetstream which has resulted in all the cooler air from the North being dragged over the British Isles instead of warmer air from the Southwest if the Azores High had come over us at all.

Its too far to say it yet but if the long standing Northerly dominance of our weather persists as it has done throughout 2011 we could be in for yet another of those freezing cold Winters.

No Sign of Summer

The past week has seen between 40 and 60mm of rain in many parts of Ireland with very little sunshine and it certainly looks like Summer 2011 is going to go down as yet another poor Summer.

The last time there was widespread heat for Summer in Ireland was July 2005 and even then there was a lot of thunderstorms. There was also some warm weather in August 2003 so it would seem that cool Summers are now the norm.

However globally the temperature is rising so how  is it that Ireland is not benefitting?

A lot of it has to do with the Jetstream which has been to the South or over Ireland for the past 6 Summers now. As long as this is the case we will continue to get these cool Summers.

Also as long as it happens in the Winter we will get freezing conditions. Conversely the Polar Sea Ice in the North Pole is at its lowest level for the time of year and may end up at its lowest level ever around the start of September. This can have the effect of altering the climate patterns of the Northern Hemisphere but Scientists are as of yet uncertain exactly how it will affect Ireland.

We are definitely in a period of climate transition in Ireland but it does seem that we are currently in a cool phase of weather and Summer will need to be written off for another year unfortunately.

A thundery scene for August.

Thundery weather becoming prevalent in August with Heavy Rain at times. There will also be some dry spells too. Temperatures are going to be near normal or slightly below but there will be the odd warm day too. Normal daytime values for August in Ireland are 16 to 18 or 19c but on the warm days they will reach 21 or 22c