Hottest July day ever
GUERNSEY sweltered in its hottest July day ever yesterday.
But it fell just short of being the hottest-ever day recorded locally.
By noon the temperature had already hit 30C, but the mercury stalled mid-afternoon at about 33C. It then rose to 34.2C at about 4.30pm.
The previous hottest July day was 19 July 2003, when the temperature hit 32.6C.
But the hottest day ever was 9 August 2003, when it was 34.3C.
While the schools have broken up, businesses were still operating in the hot weather.
Grow Ltd is a charity based in glasshouses, growing plants. Yesterday it was decided to only operate in the morning and the crew were given the option on whether to come in.
The Terrace in Cornet Street closed its kitchen during the afternoon to give the chefs a break as temperatures in there reached 40C.
‘Yesterday we had less hours for the chefs too.
‘It’s not enjoyable working in this heat – it is hot in the bar too,’ said manager Maija Aboltina.
Last weekend the restaurant had a power cut for six hours, believed to be caused by the heat affecting the cables.
‘Today our ice machine just wasn’t producing any ice so we got given some by the Cornerstone.’
She said there had been fewer customers than usual.
‘There hasn’t been many people because it’s just too hot.’
At the Model Yacht Pond, Sophie Martin from the Fishy Tails kiosk said it was very hot working through the afternoon.
‘It’s been quite constant with customers. It’s pretty hot in here, we just have a little fan. There hasn’t been many more people than usual because they are probably at the beach kiosks.’
With temperatures melting, Ben Le Prevost chocolatier decided to shut its doors, while Hotel Chocolat in the arcade managed to tackle the heat.
‘It’s fine in here we have good air conditioning. Everything is good and it is nice and cool and pleasant to work in here,’ said sales assistant Kim Evans.
RG Falla managing director Paul Mason saying the company did what it could to keep staff cool working outdoors.
‘We put a memo out to all site managers to be mindful of the heat – to drink water, take care in the sunshine and get shade where they can,’ he said.
