Guernsey Weather Fox

Wednesday

Weather

This is the murky day of the week, with low cloud bringing mist and murk throughout the morning and perhaps through a little bit of the afternoon too. Showers will be much fewer and lighter than on Tuesday night, with no further threat of thunder. In fact, by dinner time, the cloud should have all cleared southward, to leave us with an hour or two of sunshine before dusk. Winds will be moderate force 4 NE’ly, giving a slightly cooler feeling to the 21°C daytime max, and likewise to the 14°C overnight min.

Surf and the Water

The swell from hurricane Earl will really dominate the west coast surf. Being small (around 2 feet) but very strong, the beach breaks will tend to close out but some of the reef breaks could handle it very nicely (experts only). Furthermore, it might just wrap into the south coast bays to produce a few novelty nuggets. The tides, still pretty huge, but not quite so extreme… with a high of 9.2m at roughly 10am, and a low of 1.4m shortly after 4pm.

Thursday and Friday

Weather

The wind will be a moderate force 4 N’ly, until it drops off to light force 3 on Friday night. This wind will steadily draw in cooler air from Scandinavia (daily maxima of 21°C and 19°C respectively, nightly minima of 14°C then 11°C). However, on the positive side, the cloud and showers of the early part of the week will be replaced by mostly sunny days and starry nights.

Surf and the Water

The cross-shore wind will be a bit of a spoiler for the small but strong wave, which will continue to surge in and out of the west-coast bays. As for the swimming conditions, they will be best by far along south coast. High tides in the late mornings (8.7m and 8.1m respectively). Low tides will be in the late afternoons (2.1m then 2.8m).

The Weekend

A couple of dry and partly sunny days, with a light force 3 NNE’ly breeze. The airflow will still be a chilly one, coming down from Scandinavia, leading to daily maxima of 18-20°C and nightly minima of 11-13°C. Certainly not as toasty as the first half of the week, but still plenty good enough for all your late season barbeques and the like, providing you wear jumpers and trousers, rather than shorts and t-shirts.

Surf and the Water

Another two lovely days for sea-swimming and consistent 2 foot surf. The west-coast waves should be much cleaner than previously, due to the cross-shore wind being lighter. Small tides, with late morning highs of 7.5m and 6.9m respectively.

Next Week

Weather

High pressure will be centred close to the Channel until Thursday, bringing dry and mostly sunny weather, with higher temperatures (peaking in the low 20s every day). The breeze will be very light and comfortable, initially coming from an E’ly direction but gradually veering to a SW’ly. Thursday and Friday will both be much cloudier and the SW’ly wind will be a bit stronger. With this, a few showers will come, but the air should stay relatively warm.

Surf and the Water

With winds so light, we are looking at lovely conditions for swimming and paddle-boarding etc, especially with the tidal range being so tiny for most of the week (and therefore currents being very weak and gentle). As for the surf, there are still a number of potential tropical storms/hurricanes on the other side of the pond, the waves are much more likely to be small and strong rather than to fall flat.