Ireland has a temperate maritime climate shaped entirely by the Atlantic Ocean: mild, damp, and without extremes. Dublin averages 5°C in January and 15°C in July, with rain spread across about 150 days per year. The west coast (Galway, Kerry, Connemara) receives significantly more rain than the east, with annual totals of 1,200-1,600mm. Snow is rare in most of Ireland, with significant falls occurring only a few times per decade in lowland areas. The best weather months are May, June, and September, with July and August being the warmest at 16-19°C but also the busiest. Daylight in summer extends past 10 PM, while winter days are short (sunset before 4:30 PM in December). The Wild Atlantic Way coastal route is most scenic from April to October when the weather is more settled.
