The weather station at Malin Head recorded the warmest april in 100 years.
Last month the temperature on average was 3.1 degrees above normal.
Due to the the dry weather soil moisture deficits are similar to those experienced in a hot summer.
Soil moisture deficits in the north west are running at between 20mm and 40mm.
It would take between an inch and two inches of continuous rain to return the soil to average moisture content for the time of year.
Pat Clark of Met Eireann says the recent dry weather has contributed to the rapd spread of gorse fires – he says heavy rainfall due in the coming days will assist in there control:
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