Northern Ireland sees sunniest spring on record

This spring has been remarkable in Northern Ireland, as it has recorded the sunniest spring ever. Many people have been flocking to the beaches, especially in Portrush, where the sun has been shining brightly. The provisional records show that from the beginning of spring until May 21, there were 570 hours of sunshine across Northern Ireland. County Down has experienced the most sunshine, with a total of 612. 1 hours. While it has been sunny, it is important to note that Northern Ireland has not been exceptionally dry compared to other parts of the UK. In fact, May has been drier than average, and March was also quite dry, being the ninth driest March on record. Although this spring will not break any records for lack of rain, the high amount of sunshine, warm temperatures, and frequent drying winds have led to significant evaporation, which has resulted in increased wildfire alerts. nnFarmers have been enjoying the warm weather, as it has allowed them to work on their farms more effectively. For instance, Paul Williams, a farmer from County Tyrone, has been pleased with the dry conditions, which have helped him see positive results on his farm. However, there are concerns that the ground may be too dry for new growth. Stevan Patterson, another farmer from Castlederg in County Tyrone, mentioned that they received some rain on May 12, which helped keep the ground moist enough for growing. He expressed that arable farmers who have planted crops are becoming worried, especially if no rain comes by the end of the week. In County Down, farmers have been making the most of the good weather and are ahead of schedule with their work. They have cut a lot of grass for silage, and cattle have been out in the fields earlier this spring compared to last year. nnHowever, Samuel Glover, a farmer in Saintfield, County Down, pointed out that cereal and vegetable growers will soon need rain. He noted that the crops have shown good signs of growth so far, especially after last year's wet March. Yet, he has observed that some areas of the ground are starting to brown, and a bit of rain would be welcome. Farmers are hoping for about 50mm of rain over a few days to keep their crops healthy and to help with spreading fertilizer and slurry for second cuts. Meanwhile, Met Éireann, the national meteorological service, has been keeping track of soil moisture levels, which are on the rise in the Republic of Ireland. The data indicates that the amount of rain needed to restore soil moisture is now above 50mm in many areas, which is restricting growth. Met Éireann forecasts that growth will continue to be limited this week, but expected rain may help lower the soil moisture deficit to between 20 and 50mm.