Jersey's summer officially warmest on record

This summer was the warmest since records began in 1894, the Jersey Met Office has confirmed.

It said the average temperature for June, July and August was 20.5C (68.9F), compared to a 30-year average of 17.7C (63.9F) for these months.

The hottest single day was 25 June during which 39.3C (102.7F) was recorded.

Regional meteorologists said the data was in line with evidence that climate change was driving hotter summers and increasing the likelihood of drier conditions.

The meteorologists said there had been three heatwaves and temperatures had breached 30C (86F) on 13 days during the summer months.

The previous warmest summer, according to Jersey Met, was in 2022, when sensors had detected an average of 19.6C (67.3F) in June, July and August.

Jersey Met said this summer had also been the second sunniest summer on record, with 986 hours of sunshine.

It said the sunniest summer to date had been in 1976 when there had been 999 hours of sunshine and the dullest summer had been in 1927 with 578 hours.

The team said although the summer of 2026 had brought below average rainfall at 106.9mm (4.2in), it had not beaten records.

They said just 9.8mm (0.3in) of rain had fallen in 1976.

The 30-year average between 1991 and 2020 was 158mm (6.2in), the meterologists added.

Unlike large parts of the UK, the lack of rain had not led to drought conditions or hosepipe bans across the islands.

Paul Aked, from Jersey Met, said the summer had born similarities to the famous drought of 1976, although 2026 had been hotter, with more heatwave periods and higher peak temperatures.

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