Met Éireann has published its seasonal climate statement confirming that summer 2026 was the warmest in Ireland since official records began in 1900. According to the national meteorological service, the average temperature across the country during June, July, and August reached 16.28°C, surpassing the previous record set in 2025 by 0.09°C.

The forecaster noted that temperatures were exceptionally high relative to historic climate normals, finishing 2.03°C above the 1961–1990 long-term average and 1.50°C above the 1991–2020 baseline. Met Éireann highlighted that six of Ireland’s ten warmest summers have occurred since 2001, while none of the ten coldest summers on record have taken place in recent decades.

Meteorological analysis attributed the prolonged warm conditions to high-pressure systems dominating Western Europe and displacing the jet stream to the north of Ireland. The forecaster reported that intense high-pressure structures, known as heat domes, expanded over the island on several occasions during the summer, driving up both daytime and night-time temperatures.

The season also saw significant dry spells and notable temperature peaks across the country. The highest maximum temperature of the summer was recorded on June 25 in Athenry, County Galway, at 32.2°C. Additionally, Met Éireann reported that summer 2026 ranked as the 22nd driest since 1941, with Oak Park in County Carlow recording a 66-day partial drought between June 20 and August 24, setting a new national record.