ISLANDERS planning to take the plunge this Christmas maybe somewhat heartened by the fact that the current sea temperature is about a degree above average.
The sea is now around 11.2°C / 11.3°C, with the long-term average for mid-December being 10.3°C / 10.4°C.
The average sea temperature for Christmas Day, based on the 30 years between 1991 and 2020, is 10.1°C.
Over the last 47 months, back to January 2022, the monthly mean sea temperature has been above that of the long-term average for all except one month, October this year.
Official Jersey sea temperatures are recorded at the Harbour, with slight differences around the Island due to factors such as location, tides, currents, shelter and depth of water over sand.
Hundreds of people are expected to take a dip on Thursday morning, either informally or as part of an organised swim, which include ones at Havre des Pas, Ouaisne, St Ouen’s Bay, St Catherine and Grève de Lecq.
Aside from the above-average sea temperature, another factor in swimmers’ favour this year is the state of the tide, with high tide hitting St Helier at 9.18 am.
