Kilkenny weatherman on how climate change is already in train

Autumn 2024 in Kilkenny has been a lot drier than normal with near average temperatures according to Niall Dollard of Kilkennyweather.com

“This is in complete contrast to this time last year when we were right in the middle of our wettest ever 12 month period, since rainfall records began in Kilkenny in May 1957,” he said.

“After a dry start to June 2023 with a ‘marine heatwave’ in full flow, the heavens opened and from June 16 to 19 we had three unprecedented periods of very heavy rain that damaged property and ripped up the Patrick’s Street footpath.

“The 12 months of near continuous wet conditions finally ended in May of 2024. The summer may have been cool and dull at times but every month since May has been drier than normal. So much so that the rainfall total to the end of October was over 300mm less than the corresponding January to October total for 2023.

“This somewhat topsy turvy nature of our weather, dry spells/wet spells, is exactly what the climatologists say is in store for us in the future, with winters becoming wetter and springs and summers, becoming drier. Also there is to be an increased frequency of very wet days (>20%).

“An atmosphere warming by 1° C has the ability to hold 7% more water. We have just witnessed the extreme effects of this in Spain. Unfortunately there is no going back to the climate we were used to in Ireland. So much climate change is already set in train. The best we can hope for is that we see a significant reduction in emissions in order to prevent a runaway climate catastrophe.