STORM Austen was the stand-out feature of a month where weather-related news was rarely far away, data released by Jersey Met has confirmed.
Statistics show that October 2026 was significantly warmer, wetter and sunnier than the average figures for each heading over the period from 1991 to 2020.
A total of 157.8 millimetres of rain were recorded at Maison St Louis in St Helier, an increase of 48% on the 30-year average. More than a fifth of this total – 34.7mm – came on Saturday 24 October in the aftermath of Storm Austen, which brought winds of up to 84 miles per hour and saw a rare red warning issued for the Channel Islands.
Jersey’s record October extremes for rainfall were recorded in 1969, with just 5.9mm, and 2020, when the official tally was 241.6mm.
Either side of the stormy period there was plenty of sunshine for Islanders to enjoy last month, with a total of 170.8 hours being 27% above the average figure.
October was warmer than usual as well, with a figure across the month of 14.6°C – 0.9°C above average.
Islanders who enjoy swimming in the sea are likely to have noticed a significant drop in the water temperature across the month, with the figure of 15.2°C on 1 November being 3.7°C lower than a month earlier.
After a mild month in which the lowest overnight temperature was the figure of 8.6°C recorded on 19 October, the start of November came as something of a shock. The day-time maximum figure on 4 November – 9.1°C – was the lowest figure since the mercury climbed to just 9.0°C on 13 March.
October ‘Met’ data
Average figures for the month were exceeded in three areas, according to Jersey Met
- Rainfall: 157.8mm (2026). Average: 106.5mm. Record: 241.6mm (2020)
- Sunshine: 170.8 hours (2026). Average: 133.9hrs. Record: 197.3hrs (2021)
- Temperature: 14.6°C (2026). Average: 13.7°C. Record: 15.7°C (2006/2014/2022)
