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| In general , Ireland's climate is surprisingly mild given its northern location. This is mainly due to the warming effects of the gulf stream ; a massive current moving clockwise through the Atlantic ocean ; which brings warm waters up to Western Europe from the more tropical Atlantic zones , especially the Caribbean. |
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The word temperamental is particularly fitting for a description of Ireland's weather. It can be quite unpredictable , producing the most gloriously warm or sunny days at the most unexpected times ; the reverse is equally true, producing heavy rain storms out of skies that only moments before had not a rain-cloud within them. |
The mean annual temperature is around 10ºC. In winter time only occasionally does the temperature drop to below 0ºC and snow on its infrequent visits rarely lingers. As a rough guide; January and February are more generally the coldest months of the year when average daily temperatures are 4ºC to 8ºC. During the summertime , the warmest months tend to be July and August , when average temperatures during the day can range from 15ºC to 20ºC. A hot day in summertime could produce temperatures of 22ºC to 24ºC and on rare occasions can approach 30ºC.