November 2024 was the 10th warmest November on record since 1900. The average national temperature for November 2024 was 8.95 °C, which is 0.99 °C above the most recent 1991-2020 long-term average (LTA) and 1.89 °C above the 1961-1990 LTA.
The warmest November on record was in 1994 with an average temperature of 10.1 °C and the coldest November was in 1919 with an average temperature of 3.90 °C.
Met Éireaan’s Weather Provisional Statement for last month states that on average, November 2024 was mild, dry for most, and dull. The first 10 days were marked by anticyclonic gloom, with high pressure bringing very mild, cloudy and mostly dry conditions.
On Sunday November 10, weak weather fronts crossed the country from the west, introducing light rain followed by a cooler, clearer airmass with high pressure staying in control for the remainder of the second week.
However, pressure began to drop during the third week as high pressure moved away to the north-west. Initially dry and mild, the weather turned cooler and wetter as Atlantic low pressure arrived, bringing frontal rain.
By the 19th of the month, a cold Arctic maritime airmass moved south over the country, causing precipitation to turn wintry in places.
The following afternoon, a frontal trough arrived from the west and introduced rain that quickly turned to sleet and snow in some areas, with accumulations in parts of the west, midlands, south, and south-west by the morning of Thursday, November 21.
The fourth week was dominated by Storm Bert, a deep Atlantic depression named by Met Éireann, which brought the wettest and windiest period of the month, marking the end of the cold spell.
Heavy rain, preceded by snow in the north-west, and strong winds moved across the country from the south-west late on Friday, November 22, leading to flooding incidents, particularly in the south, west, and north-west.
Storm Bert continued to affect the country until for three more days, when it moved north-east. A brief period of high pressure brought cooler, drier weather with night frost and fog before milder air and rain returned towards the end of the month.
Rainfall in November
The majority of monthly rainfall totals across the country were below their 1981-2010 Long-Term Average (LTA).
Percentage of monthly rainfall values ranged from 56% (75.4mm) at Belmullet, Co. Mayo (its driest since 2013) to 135% (128.5mm) at Roche’s Point, Co Cork.
Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 54.2mm (74% of its LTA) at Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin to 196.3mm (116% of its LTA) at Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry.
The highest daily rainfall total was 57.4mm at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo on Saturday November, 23 (its wettest day of this particular month on record (record length 27 years)).
The number of rain days ranged from 15 days at Casement Aerodrome, Co. Dublin to 23 days at Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford.
The number of wet days ranged from seven days at Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin to 19 days at Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry.
The number of very wet days ranged from one day at a few stations to seven days at Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry.
Two stations had dry spells between Monday, October 28 and Friday, November 15. These were Belmullet, Co. Mayo lasting 15 days and Claremorris, Co. Mayo lasting 19 days.
Along with Knock Airport, two other stations had their wettest November day on record on Saturday, November 23 during Storm Bert. These were Oak Park, Co. Carlow with 41.7mm (length 20 years) and Finner, Co. Donegal with 41.2mm (length 13 years).
Two other stations had over 50mm of rainfall on Saturday November, 23. These were Cork Airport, with 52.4mm (its wettest November day since 1991) and Roches Point, Co. Cork with 55.6mm (its wettest November day since 2006). 10 stations had over 40mm on November 23.