TWENTY TWENTY FRIED...

Last year second hottest since 1900 but Met warns of extreme weather

- BY CATHAL RYAN

LAST year was the second warmest year on record in Ireland since 1900 with the last four years now the top four warmest on record, according to new data from Met Eireann.

The national forecaster has released 2025 insights from its annual climate report, showing it was the second warmest year in decades, and the 15th wettest since the 1940s, with above average rainfall recorded.

"We experienced five named storms in 2025, as well as a number of impactful rain events," said climatologist Paul Moore.

"The continued warming brings with it the increasing risk of severe weather events."

With the latest climate change projections indicating further warming in the future, Met Eireann said: "Temperature change means the likelihood of extreme weather events occurring has increased."

It said that rainfall patterns are expected to change with an increase in dry periods and heavy rainfall events.