Climate - Cork (Ireland)

The climate of Cork, the second largest city in Ireland, is oceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and mild, relatively rainy summers.
The city is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster, a short distance from the coast, and on the shores of Lough Mahon, which is an inland bay and a natural harbor.

Winter, from December to February, is quite cold: temperatures are not so low, but wind and humidity can increase the sensation of cold. The sky is often cloudy, and rainfall is frequent. Sometimes, intense Atlantic depressions can cause wind storms.
Snowfalls are relatively rare and not abundant. Usually, cold spells are not intense and do not last long. The temperature rarely drops below -3 °C (26.5 °F), however, at the airport, it dropped to -8.5 °C (16.7 °F) in January 1979.

In spring, from March to May, the temperature slowly rises, and Atlantic fronts become a bit less frequent. In May, it is often still quite cold, especially in the first half of the month.

Summer, from June to August, is cool, with quite frequent rains, in a context of variable weather. Sometimes fog can form.
Hot days are rare: the temperature may not reach 25 °C (77 °F) for an entire month. The highest record is 29.7 °C (85.5 °F) and was set in July 1989.

Autumn, from September to November, is gray, cloudy and rainy, and with each passing week, it gets progressively colder. In November, the wind is often moderate or strong.

Best Time

The best time to visit Cork is the summer, from June to August, since it is the mildest of the year. The temperatures are generally good for outdoors activities, although it's better to bring an umbrella, and a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening or for cool days.

Cork - Climate data

In Cork, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Cork, precipitation amounts to 1230 millimeters (48.4 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 75 mm (3 in) in the driest month (April) to 140 mm (5.5 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
At Cork, the sea temperature ranges from 9.5 °C (49 °F) in February, March to 17 °C (63 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Cork, there are on average around 1430 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Cork - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Cork is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.7 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 3.2 °C (37.7 °F) and a maximum of 8.3 °C (47 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -5.1 °C (22.8 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 17 °C (62.6 °F) in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Cork is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 3 °C (37.5 °F) and a maximum of 8.6 °C (47.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -5.3 °C (22.5 °F) in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Cork is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 9.9 °C (49.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Cork is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 5.1 °C (41.1 °F) and a maximum of 12 °C (53.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) in April 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10 °C (50.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Cork is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.0 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 7.3 °C (45.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in May 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) in May 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11.5 °C (53 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Cork is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) and a maximum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in June 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in June 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Cork is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In August, the weather in Cork is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) and a maximum of 18.5 °C (65.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in August 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Cork is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.3 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F) and a maximum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) in September 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in September 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Cork is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) in October 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it reached 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Cork is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.3 °F) and a maximum of 10.4 °C (50.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12 °C (54 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Cork is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.6 °F) and a maximum of 8.7 °C (47.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) in December 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (52 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.