Overview of Guernsey and Alderney Weather
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is an archipelago in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. It consists of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. The climate is mild with little variation between seasons. The average temperature is 12°C. January and February are the coldest months, with an average temperature of 8°C. July and August are the warmest months, with an average temperature of 16°C.
There is very little rainfall, and what there is tends to fall in short, sharp showers. The average annual rainfall is only about 610mm. However, there is often a lot of variation from year to year. Some years, like 2012, can be extremely wet, with over 1,200mm of rain, while other years, like 2013, can be very dry, with less than 400mm of rain.
Generally speaking, the weather in Guernsey is quite stable. However, there can be strong winds at times, particularly in the winter. The ‘Northerly’ is a wind that blows from the north-east and can be very cold. The ‘Southerly’ is a wind that blows from the south-west and is usually milder.
Alderney has a similar climate to Guernsey, but it is generally a bit warmer and sunnier. The average temperature is 14°C and the average annual rainfall is about 630mm.
Sark has a slightly cooler climate than Guernsey and Alderney, with an average temperature of 11°C. Sark is also the driest of the four islands, with an average annual rainfall of only 590mm.
Herm has a very mild climate, with an average temperature of 13°C. Herm is the wettest of the four islands, with an average annual rainfall of 660mm.
