This spring was the third warmest in 126 years with a national mean temperature of 10.14 degrees, according to Met Éireann’s latest seasonal climate statement.It found the months of March, April and May were “exceptionally warm,” behind just two other spring seasons since 1900.Seven of the ten warmest springs have occurred since 2001, while last year’s season was warmer than 2026. The national forecaster said March was “mild and relatively wet”; April “mild and quite sunny”; and May “mild and dry with a heat dome bringing record-breaking hot conditions towards the end of the season.”This year’s spring was milder than average, although it was wetter than average in the west of the country and drier than average in the south and east.The national average rainfall for spring 2026 was around normal with 103 per cent of the 1991-2020 long-term average of 257.5mm ranking as the 32nd wettest spring since 1941.The highest daily rainfall total was 38.6mm at Belmullet, Co Mayo on April 4th.The number of very wet days ranged from two at both Oak Park, Co Carlow and Dublin Airport, Co Dublin to 11 days at Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry. A “very wet” day is defined as experiencing 10mm or more of rainfall.It was the wettest spring for seven years in parts of the northwest and the driest for six years in parts of the east.Mean temperatures for the season ranged from 8.9 degrees at Knock Airport, Co Mayo to 10.7 degrees at both Sherkin Island, Co Cork and Shannon Airport, Co Clare.The season’s highest temperature was reported at Shannon Airport, Co Clare on May 26th reaching 30.6 degrees. (A separate temperature of 30.9 degrees recorded in both Limerick and Tipperary last week was sourced from a different type of recording station and also requires verification) That was the highest daily maximum temperature for spring ever recorded at a weather recording station. However, the national forecaster said this is subject to verification as a number of stations that provisionally broke records will undergo investigation.Spring 2026 ranked third warmest in Ireland since 1900. Photograph: Alan Betson