By Jonathan Magee
Donegal is set for a return to typical northwest summer conditions this week after the extraordinary heatwave that gripped Ireland over the past seven days, with rain forecast for most of the coming week and temperatures dropping back toward seasonal norms.
The contrast with last week could hardly be sharper.
Ireland saw temperatures climbing into the high 20s and touching 30 degrees or higher as a plume of warm continental air swept north from Europe.
Donegal’s north coast was somewhat sheltered, with Met Éireann noting that a northeasterly breeze kept temperatures in the high teens to low 20s, cooler than much of the country, but still well above what the county would ordinarily expect for late June.
The incoming spell of hot weather was officially described as the most severe heatwave ever recorded in Europe, and Met Éireann recorded temperatures of 30 degrees or higher across eleven regions on Thursday alone.
Donegal was also caught up in the severe weather that accompanied the breakdown of the heat. A Status Yellow thunderstorm warning covering all of Connacht and counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Longford was in place until 10pm on Thursday, with risks including localised flooding, lightning damage, hail and hazardous driving conditions.
That turbulence is now clearing, but what follows is expected to be decidedly unsettled.
Forecasts for the county show rain on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and into the following days, with daytime temperatures of around 16 degrees and overnight lows near 11 degrees, southwesterly winds maintaining a breezy feel throughout.
By the standards of the past week, those figures represent a significant step down. But measured against historical norms, they are close to what Donegal would expect at this time of year. Average highs in the county at the end of June sit around 16 to 17 degrees, with lows near 11 degrees, while June typically brings around 18 rainy days, 16 cloudy days and just three sunny days across the month.
Met Éireann has said the country will return to more typical Irish summer weather for the weekend and into next week, and on the evidence of the forecast, Donegal’s spell of remarkable heat is well and truly over.