Guernsey Weather Fox

Tuesday

Weather

Maybe a few cloudy spells… now that the NE’ly wind is established, this means that low cloud from the north sea will tend to drift into the Channel, break up but still affect the Islands at times. However, for the most part, skies are expected to be blue and sunny. The temperature will reach a healthy 19°C or maybe even 20°C, but the strength of the wind (force 4-5 and gusty) will mean that you have to find a sheltered spot to enjoy it. The south-coast cliffs will shelter those beaches nicely, as will the sea walls (if you stay very close to them) at many of the west-coast bays.

Surf and the Water

1 foot surf though most of the day, picking up to 3 feet in the evening. Unfortunately however, the cross-shore ENE’ly wind will be strong enough to spoil this. Kitesurfers and windsurfers should be having a good time though. As for swimmers, the only smooth water will generally be towards high tide, along the south coast and in the northern corners of the west-coast bays. Those highs will be about 8.8m at 6:45am and 9.4m at 7pm. Low tide will be around 1pm.

Wednesday and Thursday

Weather

Virtually the same as Tuesday, in terms of weather and temperature (maxima of around 20°C). However, one thing that is definitely worth drawing your attention to is the massive tidal movements. With the harvest moon (full on Tuesday) so close to the Autumnal Equinox (this coming Sunday), we have some of the biggest astronomical tides of the year. The west coast will see very little drama, but the east coast is bound to see some overtopping onto the streets, because of the brisk onshore wind there.

Surf and the Water

Wednesday’s surf should be about 3 feet and Thursday’s 2 feet but regrettably, once again the ENE’ly wind will be strong enough to spoil it for surfers and only make it any good for kitesurfers or windsurfers. Swimming conditions will once again be smoothest on the south coast and in a few sheltered west-coast pockets. Big tides, potentially some of the biggest of the year, although they will be dampened by the high air pressure. Wednesday morning’s high will be about 9.4m at 7:30 am, then the highs will increase incrementally through Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, until we reach the biggest one… 10.2m at 8:30pm Thursday. Low tides will be in the early afternoons.

Friday and The Weekend

Weather

Much gentler winds… still ENE’ly but dropping off to light force 3 by the end of Friday. Then Saturday will have a light force 2 SE’ly. So with plenty of sunshine, these two days will feel a lot more pleasant than the previous few, even though the thermometers will be showing the same 20°C maxima. At some point during this time, probably late Saturday or early Sunday, some thundery showers will wander northwards across the Channel and possibly give us a soaking. Either way, once we get into Sunday proper, there should be a fair amount of sunshine, but the breeze will be a light W’ly and this will set us up for a slight drop off in temperatures as we head into the following week.

Surf and the Water

The surf should be pretty clean on Friday and Saturday but very small… only 1-2 feet at best. Sunday might just deliver some quality 2-3 foot waves, but it’s a long way off so we certainly can’t be too sure about this. Swimming conditions will be best on the west coast through Friday and most of Saturday, then on all coasts through Sunday. Tides will still be huge but they will start to shrink… Friday’s highs will be 10m around 9am and 10.2m around 9pm. Saturday’s highs will come roughly half an hour later and be about 9.8m. Sunday’s highs about half an hour later again… 9.4m and 9.1m respectively.