July Temperatures Exceed Norms
- markdarrenwilkinso
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
Jersey Records Warmer-Than-Average July Amid Ongoing Climate Trends
Jersey experienced a notably warm July this year, with temperatures averaging 1°C higher than the island’s long-term norm, according to data from Jersey Met.
The island’s mean temperature for the month reached 19.4°C (67°F), surpassing the 30-year average of 18.3°C (64°F). The month also brought bouts of intense heat, including one spike that forced a secondary school to close early after temperatures hit 30°C (86°F).
Rainfall levels also edged above average. The island received 48.3mm of rain over the month—compared to the seasonal norm of 40mm. However, the increase in rainfall wasn’t enough to offset earlier dry conditions.
Water Supply Under Pressure
Despite the relatively wetter July, Jersey Water confirmed it had activated its desalination plant to supplement water reserves, which had been strained by a dry spring. The utility cited reduced reservoir levels as a key concern, despite the mid-summer rain.
In contrast, July 2022 still holds the title for the island’s driest on record, with a meagre 0.7mm of rainfall logged throughout the month. Weather and climate data is gathered from Maison St Louis Observatory, a long-standing institution that has been monitoring Jersey’s climate since 1894.
Broader Warming Patterns Persist
Jersey’s recent weather fits into a much larger pattern of global warming. According to the European Copernicus Climate Service, global temperatures between 2015 and 2024 were, on average, 1.28°C above pre-industrial levels.
The UK Met Office reports that each decade since the 1980s has been warmer than the last—a trend culminating in 2024, now recognised as the hottest year on record. It also marked the first full calendar year where global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
These milestones are part of what scientists define as climate change: long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, largely driven by human activity, especially greenhouse gas emissions.
