WATCH: Jersey dusted with snow overnight – and more is on the way

Tuesday 09 January 2024

Jersey may not have got a white Christmas, but a white new year instead... with many waking up to gardens, cars, roads and even the island's iconic castles dusted with snow today.

A cold easterly flow will brought wintry showers to the Channel Islands overnight, with up to 3cm of snow accumulating in places.

Video: Snowfall captured by David Ferguson.

Temperatures are currently -0.6 degrees Celsius, and not expected to go above 2 degrees today.

Upgrading the island's snow warning from yellow to orange at 06:50, Jersey Met forecasters say that snow showers are likely to continue throughout the afternoon.

Jersey today – Cloudy with some sleet or snow at times. Perhaps some brighter spells developing towards dusk. Max: 2°C.
Wind: East light F3 to moderate F4.

— Jersey Met (@Jersey_Met) January 9, 2024

They said there may be further snow accumulations of up to 3cm.

The island's ice warning was also updated to orange at 10:25 this morning.

Pictured: Jersey Met issued an orange ice warning at 10:25 this morning.

Jersey Met added that "further sleet or snow showers are possible from now through into Wednesday morning".

Not a school 'snow day'

But, in bad news for school students, the Government is not deeming it an official 'snow day'.

"Unless parents and carers have heard otherwise from their school, children should be taken to school as usual," Education officials said.

Pictured: Some woke up to find their cars covered. (David Ferguson)

"There will naturally be some delays and schools are prepared for this; the main priority is that it is done safely.

"There is not a whole school closure policy in place for today."

This afternoon, the Government confirmed that some schools have taken the decision to offer an early pick up to help parents and carers with the ongoing weather impacts and local conditions. This has and will continue to be directly communicated via the schools.

A meeting will be held at 05.45am tomorrow to assess the conditions in relation to school travel. Parents and guardians will be informed of closures by their school’s headteacher. In the event that you are not contacted by the school, assume the school will be open as usual.

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) January 9, 2024

A meeting will be held at 05:45 tomorrow morning to assess the conditions in relation to school travel.

Parents and guardians will be informed of closures by their school’s headteacher.

In the event that you are not contacted, assume the school will be open as usual.

All buses are running as normal, but please expect delays.

— LibertyBus (@LibertyBusje) January 9, 2024

LibertyBus said all buses are running as normal, but urged customers to expect delays.

Take care on the roads

Islanders are being urged to take care outside, particularly on the roads where ice may form.

Pictured: A covered garden. (Dave Ferguson)

Police issued the following advice:

• Firstly, think about whether your journey is necessary.
• Braking distances can increase tenfold on ice compared with a dry road. For this reason, you should leave up to 10 times the normal recommended gap between you and the car in front.
• Remember that tyres grip less efficiently in cold conditions. So even if the temperature is above zero and there's no ice on the road, you should take extra care.
• Please leave extra time for your journey and expect delays due to the road conditions.

Other closures

Jersey Zoo confirmed on social media that the Bat Roost, Tortoise Tunnel, and Buttery Kaleidoscope are closed today to maintain the building temperatures.

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Pictured top: Mont Orgeuil covered in snow. (James Jeune)