Warm 2017 on average but no record breaker
UPGRADES to the Chouet weather station means live data could be available to the public later this year.
In its annual weather report, the Guernsey Met Office said the work to the station meant live data could now be uploaded to a website. It was hoped this could be made available to the public, but there were still some hurdles to overcome.
‘... Some problems powering the station persist as the equipment is located far from any mains electrical power,’ it said.
In 2017, Alderney lost some data from their annual weather statistics after a lightning bolt hit a wind mast, resulting in communication equipment damage in Guernsey Airport from the voltage down the copper wire.
The station was due a major upgrade between 2018 and 2019 but this was brought forward.
The Met Office said there was no ‘stand out weather event’ in 2017 unlike previous years with rainfall and sunshine being close to average.
‘The Great Fog’ in March created one of the longest periods of continuous murkiness for the airport, totalling 72 hours.
April increased the annual sunnier figures, but despite 21 consecutive dry days, the month ended with the wettest April day on record, producing 85% of the total rain.
A cooler September made the month the wettest since 1998 and October produced ‘Orange Monday’ as ex-hurricane ‘Ophelia’ moved west of the UK.
On average it was a warm year but no records were broken.
