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Letterkenny

Sun, sea & sand

Letterkenny at a glance

Best time
Apr – Jun
Warmest month
Jul · 18°
Warmest sea
Aug · 15.3°
Sunshine a year
1,250 h
Rain a year
1,175 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
8 m

Climate in Letterkenny

Letterkenny has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 18 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,250 hours of sunshine a year, Letterkenny is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 5.9 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

0

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: April – June

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 8°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 12°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 11°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 10°

07:5818:35

Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:36–08:48 · evening 17:45–18:57
Blue hour
Morning 07:22–07:36 · evening 18:57–19:11

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Letterkenny in October?

In October, Letterkenny is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 112 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 37 min07:58 – 18:35
UV index
1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
24 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
79 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+1Europe/Dublin

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %0 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Letterkenny

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October13.3°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 12.7 – 13.8 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 13.3°8 in 10 years 12.7° – 13.8°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Letterkenny ranges from 8.6 °C in February to 15.3 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 14.6 and 16.1 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan9.2°8.7°9.6°cold
FebruaryFeb8.6°8.0°9.1°cold
MarchMar8.6°7.9°9.2°cold
AprilApr9.4°8.6°9.9°cold
MayMay11.1°10.1°12.1°cold
JuneJun13.2°12.2°14.5°cold
JulyJul14.7°13.7°15.8°cold
AugustAug15.3°14.6°16.1°cold
SeptemberSep14.7°14.0°15.3°cold
OctoberOct13.3°12.7°13.8°cold
NovemberNov11.8°11.0°12.5°cold
DecemberDec10.3°9.7°10.8°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Letterkenny

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,250 hours
Sunniest month
May · 5.9 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.3 h a day
OctoberSunshine 2.7 hDaylight 10.6 hShare of daylight 25 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 2.7 of 10.6 hours of daylight in Letterkenny, 25 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Letterkenny

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 95 min
Fair skin
about 115 min
Light brown skin
over 2 h
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Letterkenny: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,175 mm on 207 days
Wettest month
Oct · 112 mm
Driest month
Apr · 78 mm
OctoberRainy days 18Rainfall 112 mm

In October, Letterkenny has about 18 rainy days with 112 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Letterkenny

How breezy and how cloudy Letterkenny is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
23 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Feb · 27 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 19 km/h
OctoberWind 24 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Letterkenny typically peaks at 24 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Aug – Jun.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
78 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Apr · 72 %
Cloudiest month
Jul · 82 %
OctoberCloud cover 79 %Sunshine 2.7 h

In October, cloud covers on average 79 % of the sky over Letterkenny: mostly cloudy, with about 2.7 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Letterkenny

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°

CoolOctober: nights around 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in August (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 13°Night 8°Sea 13°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan07°3°9.2°1.4 h18104
FebruaryFeb28°3°8.6°2.4 h1696
MarchMar39°3°8.6°3.2 h1681
AprilApr1012°5°9.4°5.0 h1678
MayMay1215°8°11.1°5.9 h1690
JuneJun917°10°13.2°5.0 h1694
JulyJul518°12°14.7°4.5 h18103
AugustAug518°12°15.3°4.6 h18107
SeptemberSep416°10°14.7°3.4 h1689
OctoberOct013°8°13.3°2.7 h18112
NovemberNov09°5°11.8°1.7 h19110
DecemberDec08°3°10.3°1.3 h19112

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

54.95° N, 7.73° W · 8 m · Europe/Dublin

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Letterkenny

The best time to visit Letterkenny is from April to June. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 15.3 °C. The wettest month is October with 112 mm of precipitation.

Letterkenny through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Letterkenny in spring

Mar – May

8

Poor

  • 9–15 °C by day
  • Sea 10 °C
  • 5 h of sun a day
  • 48 rainy days in all

Letterkenny in summer

Jun – Aug

6

Poor

  • 17–18 °C by day
  • Sea 14 °C
  • 5 h of sun a day
  • 53 rainy days in all

Letterkenny in autumn

Sep – Nov

1

Poor

  • 9–16 °C by day
  • Sea 13 °C
  • 3 h of sun a day
  • 53 rainy days in all

Letterkenny in winter

Dec – Feb

1

Poor

  • 7–8 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 53 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Letterkenny for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: April – June

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Letterkenny

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

May has the better holiday weather in Letterkenny: score 12 against 0. In May, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in May. May has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in May.

October vs. May, Letterkenny
MonthOctoberMay
Weather score012better
Day high13°15°
Night low8°8°
Sea13.3°11.1°
Sunshine2.7 h5.9 hbetter
Rainy days1816better
Rainfall112 mm90 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No month

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

No month

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

All year

12 or more rainy days

Letterkenny month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

0January7° · Sea 9° · 1 h

In January, Letterkenny is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 9.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 104 mm. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in January
2February8° · Sea 9° · 2 h

In February, Letterkenny is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 96 mm. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in February
3March9° · Sea 9° · 3 h

In March, Letterkenny is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 81 mm. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in March
10April12° · Sea 9° · 5 h

In April, Letterkenny is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 78 mm. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in April
12May15° · Sea 11° · 6 h

In May, Letterkenny is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 11.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 90 mm. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in May
9June17° · Sea 13° · 5 h

In June, Letterkenny is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 13.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 94 mm. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in June
5July18° · Sea 15° · 5 h

In July, Letterkenny is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 103 mm. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in July
5August18° · Sea 15° · 5 h

In August, Letterkenny is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 107 mm. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in August
4September16° · Sea 15° · 3 h

In September, Letterkenny is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 89 mm. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in September
0October13° · Sea 13° · 3 h

In October, Letterkenny is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 112 mm. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in October
0November9° · Sea 12° · 2 h

In November, Letterkenny is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 11.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 110 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in November
0December8° · Sea 10° · 1 h

In December, Letterkenny is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 10.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 112 mm. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Letterkenny.

Letterkenny in December
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Letterkenny compared

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Letterkenny vs. Derry

In October the holiday weather in Letterkenny and Derry is about equally good (score 0 vs. 1). During the day it is about as warm in Derry as in Letterkenny. The sea is about equally warm.

Letterkenny vs. Derry, in October
in OctoberLetterkennyDerry
Holiday score01
Daytime high13°13°
Sea13°13°
Sunshine3 h3 h
Rainy days1817
Best timeApr – JunApr – Jun

Through the year

OctoberLetterkenny 13°Derry 13°
LetterkennyDerry
Go to Derry
Ranking

Ireland in October: the best places

In October, Letterkenny ranks 16 of 18 destinations in this country.

  1. Dublin14°14°40
  2. 2Kilkenny14°39
  3. 3Cork14°14°39
  4. 4Waterford14°37
  5. 5Killarney14°36
  6. 6Limerick14°34
  7. 7Dún Laoghaire14°14°9
  8. 8Bray14°14°9
  9. 16LetterkennyThis page13°13°0
All destinations: Ireland

Planning a trip to Letterkenny

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Letterkenny in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Letterkenny has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 11) and its weakest during October half-term (score 0).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    8

    Poor

    • 11 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 4.5 h of sun a day
    • 16 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    11

    PoorBest holidays

    • 15 °C by day
    • Sea 12 °C
    • 5.7 h of sun a day
    • 16 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    5

    Poor

    • 18 °C by day
    • Sea 15 °C
    • 4.6 h of sun a day
    • 18 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    0

    Poor

    • 13 °C by day
    • Sea 13 °C
    • 2.7 h of sun a day
    • 18 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    0

    Poor

    • 7 °C by day
    • Sea 10 °C
    • 1.4 h of sun a day
    • 18 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
about 1 h 15 min
Distance
620 km
Time zone
UTC+1
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Letterkenny

When is the best time to visit Letterkenny?

The best time to visit Letterkenny is from April to June. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Letterkenny?

The sea temperature in Letterkenny ranges from 8.6 °C in February to 15.3 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Letterkenny in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 13.3 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Letterkenny?

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 18 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.

When does it rain most in Letterkenny?

The wettest month is October with 112 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 78 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Letterkenny get?

Letterkenny gets around 1,250 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 5.9 hours a day; in December there are 1.3 hours a day.

What time zone is Letterkenny in?

Letterkenny uses the time zone Europe/Dublin: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

How long is the flight from London to Letterkenny?

A nonstop flight from London to Letterkenny takes about 1 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 620 km.

Which school holidays are best for Letterkenny?

Letterkenny has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 11) and its weakest during October half-term (score 0). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 8, May half-term 11, Summer holidays 5, October half-term 0, Christmas holidays 0.

Near Letterkenny

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Letterkenny

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Letterkenny's – good alternatives.

  1. 84% similar0GreenockUnited Kingdom12°13°Best time: Apr – Jun
  2. 83% similar2TraleeIreland14°14°Best time: Apr – Jun
  3. 81% similar1AberystwythUnited Kingdom13°14°Best time: Apr – Aug
  4. 80% similar0Fort WilliamUnited Kingdom11°13°Best time: Apr – Jun