Human-Caused Climate Change Led to Ireland's Record May 26 Temperatures

A rapid weather attribution study concluded that Ireland's record-breaking temperatures on May 26 would not have occurred without human-caused climate change. An intense high-pressure system and a hot tropical airmass brought exceptionally high temperatures to Ireland from May 25 to May 27.

New maximum air temperature records were set at 18 Met Éireann synoptic stations, and the national May daily temperature record was surpassed by over 2°C. The previous record of 28.4°C, set in Ardfert, Co Kerry, in 1997, was broken on May 25. On May 26, a temperature of 30.6°C was recorded at Shannon Airport, Co Clare. Met Éireann confirmed this 30.6°C record was exceeded at seven other high-quality climate stations the same day, with temperatures ranging from 30.7°C to 30.9°C.

These seven stations include Abbeyfeale (Co Limerick), Clonmel (Co Tipperary), Castleisland (Co Kerry), Durrow (Co Laois), Greens Hill (Kilkenny City), Killarney (Co Kerry), and Fethard (Co Tipperary). Met Éireann's data indicates the increase in the monthly May temperature record was between 2.1°C and 2.5°C. May 2026 was the seventh warmest May since 1900, with eight of the ten warmest Mays occurring since 2001.

The study, by Maynooth University researchers with Met Éireann support, states these events were impossible in a pre-industrial climate. Researchers concluded that with a 1.3°C global warming since pre-industrial times, such single-day extremes are expected once every 60 years, potentially increasing to once every 20 years if warming reaches 3°C. Dr. Claire Bergin, lead author, called the temperatures «alarming,» emphasizing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in adaptation.