Unusual 'tropical nights' recorded as June heatwave shatters records across Ireland
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June 2026 was the fourth warmest June ever recorded in Ireland
The latest Met Éireann Climate Statement shows that the hot and humid spell towards the end of last month was a particularly unusual one, with several stations breaking temperature records, and the occurrence of ‘Tropical Night’ temperatures.
June 2026 was the fourth warmest June ever recorded in Ireland, according to new figures from Met Éireann, with a late-month heatwave shattering temperature records across the country.
The national forecaster said the month was marked by an exceptionally hot and humid spell that saw numerous stations record their highest temperatures on record, while several locations also experienced unprecedented overnight warmth.
Provisional data shows the average temperature for June was 15.33°C, which was 1.65°C above the long-term average, making it the fourth warmest June since records began in 1900. Met Éireann noted that six of the ten warmest Junes on record have now occurred since 2001.
The most significant weather event came during the final week of the month when a "heat dome" developed over western Europe and pushed unusually hot air northwards towards Ireland.
The heatwave resulted in a remarkable number of records being broken nationwide. Thirteen weather stations recorded their highest June temperature on record, while six stations registered their highest temperature ever recorded in any month.
The highest temperature of the month was recorded in Athenry, Co Galway, where the mercury reached 32.2°C on June 25.
Night-time temperatures were equally notable. Nine of Met Éireann's principal weather stations recorded their highest-ever minimum temperatures, while Oak Park in Co Carlow and Casement Aerodrome in Dublin experienced rare "tropical nights", where temperatures remained above 20°C overnight.
According to Met Éireann, these were only the third and fourth occurrences of a tropical night ever recorded at a principal weather station in Ireland.
Three locations — Oak Park, Moore Park in Cork and Gurteen in Tipperary — also officially met Ireland's heatwave criteria by recording temperatures above 25°C for at least five consecutive days.
Despite the record-breaking heat, June was also wetter than average across the country. Every weather station recorded above-average rainfall during the month, with Belmullet in Co Mayo experiencing its wettest June since 2002. Several stations, including Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Phoenix Park, recorded their wettest June in more than a decade.
The figures come amid a wider period of exceptional warmth across Europe, with several countries reporting record-breaking temperatures during June as a major heatwave affected large parts of the continent.
Met Éireann said June began with relatively cool and unsettled conditions before temperatures steadily increased throughout the month, culminating in the record-breaking heat and humidity experienced during its final week.