02 January 2024
Provisional figures from Jersey Met show that the average temperature in Jersey during 2023 was
13.34 degrees Celsius, making it the Island’s equal second hottest year on record, at the Maison St Louis Observatory where official records began in 1894.
The 13.34°C figure – which is calculated from the average of each day’s maximum and minimum
temperatures – was the same as the average from 2014, and 0.22 degrees cooler than the 2022
record.
Provisional rainfall figures also show that 2023 was the wettest year since records began in 1932 at
the Howard Davis Farm weather station, with a total rainfall of 1,352.9mm. At Maison St. Louis
Observatory, where records date back to 1894, a total rainfall of 1,074.0mm was recorded during
the year, making it the fifth wettest on record for the site – the wettest being 2020 with 1178.4mm.
Paul Aked, Head of Meteorology for Jersey Met, said: “While we may look back at 2023 and feel it
has not been a particularly warm year, especially during July and August, the annual temperature
calculation uses both the daily maximum and minimum temperature readings throughout the year.
“We’ve had many mild nights during the year, 14 were the mildest for that night since records
began. Twenty-two nights during the year recorded a minimum temperature higher than the
average daytime maximum for that day, ten of those during a very mild December.
“September was the warmest for that month on record, June the second warmest, with October
and December both being the fourth warmest, when compared with records dating back to 1894,
all contributing to the year being the equal second hottest on record.”
Sea temperature has also been mild with 2023 being the fourth warmest on record, with an above
average sea temperature on all but very few days during the year. Sea temperature records for the
Island date back to 1960.
A dark red colour, just one shade lighter than last year, will soon be added to the climate stripes
mural on the wall at the Waterfront. Using colour, the stripes show how the Island’s climate is
warming over time, and act as a visual climate change reminder. Once the new stripe has been
added, there will be a total of 130 stripes – each representing a year from 1894 through to 2023.
Deputy Hilary Jeune, the Assistant Minister for the Environment, said: “2023 was among the hottest
and wettest years we’ve seen in Jersey, following last year’s record-breaker, and the statistics
announced today are another stark reminder of the climate change challenges we face.
“We’ve made some significant steps forward over the past year as we began to implement the
policies and initiatives of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap on our journey to net zero. As we enter
2024, I’m optimistic that Islanders will play an ever-growing part in reducing emissions through
changes, some big and some small, to the way we go about our daily lives.”
gov.je