Editing Jersey (section)

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Jersey}}
[[File:Jersey by Sentinel-2.jpg|alt=|thumb|Satellite view of Jersey.]]
[[File:Jersey2021OSM.png|thumb|Large map of Jersey.]]
Jersey is an island measuring {{convert|119.6|km2|order=flip}} (or 66,436 [[vergée]]s),<ref name=figures /> including [[Land reclamation|reclaimed land]] and [[intertidal zone]]. It lies in the [[English Channel]], about {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|lk=on}} from the [[Cotentin Peninsula]] in Normandy, France, and about {{convert|87|nmi|km mi}} south of Great Britain.{{efn|name="not BI"}} It is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands and part of the British Isles, with a maximum land elevation of {{convert|143|m}} (469 ft) above sea level.<ref name="peakbagger">{{cite web |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=80587 |title=Ascent of Jersey High Point on 2009-09-12 |website=Peakbagger.com |quote=Sources vary on the elevation of Les Platons. Its height is often listed at 143 m, as well as 136 m. |access-date=23 June 2012 |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318210217/https://www.peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=80587 |url-status=live }}</ref>

About 24% of the island is built-up. Land area dedicated to cultivation is 52% of the island, and around 18% is natural environment.<ref name="Jersey-2020">{{Cite web |last=Jersey |url=https://www.gov.je/Government/JerseyInFigures/Environment/Pages/SizeLandCover.aspx |title=Size and land cover of Jersey |access-date=10 December 2020 |website=Government of Jersey |language=en |archive-date=2 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102082943/https://www.gov.je/Government/JerseyInFigures/Environment/Pages/SizeLandCover.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

It lies within longitude [[2nd meridian west|-2° W]] and latitude [[49th parallel north|49° N]]. It has a coastline that is {{convert|70|km|order=flip}} long and a total area of {{convert|119.6|km2|order=flip}}. It measures roughly {{convert|9|mi}} from west to east and {{convert|5|mi|0}} north to south, which gives it the affectionate name among locals of "nine-by-five".<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Nine by Five Media |url=https://medium.com/nine-by-five-media/about |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=Medium |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318111540/https://medium.com/nine-by-five-media/about |url-status=live }}</ref>

The island is characterised by a number of valleys which generally run north-to-south, such as Waterworks Valley, Grands Vaux, Mont les Vaux, although a few run in other directions, such as Le Mourier Valley. The highest point on the island is Les Platons at {{cvt|136|m}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les Platons (Jersey) {{!}} Channel Islands |url=https://www.themountainguide.co.uk/channel-islands/les-platons-jersey.htm |access-date=10 December 2020 |website=UK mountain Guide |language=en |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201034047/https://www.themountainguide.co.uk/channel-islands/les-platons-jersey.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are several smaller island groups that are part of the Bailiwick of Jersey, such as Les Minquiers and Les Écrehous, however unlike the smaller islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, none of these are permanently inhabited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Minquiers and Écréhous in spatial context: Contemporary issues and cross perspectives on border islands, reefs and rocks |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283710767 |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}}</ref>

=== Settlements ===
The largest settlement is the town of St Helier, including the built-up area of southern St Helier and neighbouring areas such as Georgetown, which also plays host to the island's seat of government. The town is the central business district, hosting a large proportion of the island's retail and employment, such as the finance industry.<ref>Willie Miller Urban Design (2005) [https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Planning%20and%20building/StHelierUrbanCharacter%20StrategicContext.pdf strategic context] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411084807/https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Planning%20and%20building/StHelierUrbanCharacter%20StrategicContext.pdf |date=11 April 2022 }} in ''St Helier Urban Character Appraisal.''</ref>

Outside of the town, many islanders live in suburban and rural settlements, especially along main roads leading out of town, and even the more rural areas of the island have considerable amounts of development (St Ouen, the least densely populated parish, still has 270 persons per square kilometre<ref name="JerseyCensus-2001">{{Cite web |title=Jersey Census 2001: Chapter 2: Population Characteristics |url=https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20administration/R%20Census01Chapter2%20200211022%20SU.pdf |access-date=15 November 2018 |publisher=States of Jersey |language=en-us |archive-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313191658/http://gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Government%20and%20administration/R%20Census01Chapter2%20200211022%20SU.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>). The south and east coasts from [[Saint Aubin, Jersey|St Aubin]] to [[Gorey, Jersey|Gorey]] are largely urbanised. The second smaller urban area is the Les Quennevais area in [[St Brelade]], which is home to a small precinct of shops,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archives and collections online |url=https://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org//collection/Keywords/archive/content.subject/Les%20Quennevais%20Precinct/ |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=[[Jersey Heritage]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409232824/https://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org/collection/Keywords/archive/content.subject/Les%20Quennevais%20Precinct/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Les Quennevais School|a school]], a park, and a leisure centre.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les Quennevais|url=https://www.active.je/centres/les-quennevais|access-date=18 March 2022|website=www.active.je|archive-date=26 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326175332/https://www.active.je/centres/les-quennevais|url-status=live}}</ref>

Most people across Jersey regularly travel from the rural settlements to St Helier and from the town to the rural areas for work and leisure purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Framework for a Sustainable Transport System: 2020–2030 |url=http://www.gov.je/Government/Pages/StatesReports.aspx?ReportID=5133 |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=[[Government of Jersey]] |language=en |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318141534/https://www.gov.je/Government/Pages/StatesReports.aspx?ReportID=5133 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Housing costs in Jersey are very high. The Jersey House Price Index has at least doubled between 2002 and 2020. The mix-adjusted house price for Jersey is £567,000, higher than any UK region (UK average: £249,000) including London (average: £497,000; highest of any UK region).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jersey House Price Index Q4 2020 |url=https://www.gov.je/News/2021/Pages/House-price-report-for-the-fourth-quarter-2020.aspx |website=[[Government of Jersey]] |access-date=18 February 2021 |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218100235/https://www.gov.je/News/2021/Pages/House-price-report-for-the-fourth-quarter-2020.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The island has an [[oceanic climate]], with cool to mild winters and lukewarm to warm summers.<ref name="Factbook">{{Cite web |date=5 October 2006 |title=CIA – The World Factbook – Jersey |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jersey/ |access-date=7 October 2006 |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |archive-date=13 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113013826/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jersey |url-status=live }}</ref> The highest temperature recorded was 37.9&nbsp;°C (100.2&nbsp;°F), on [[2022 United Kingdom heatwaves#July heatwave|18 July 2022]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2022 |title=Jersey records hottest ever day as temperatures top 36°C |url=https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2022/07/18/jersey-records-hottest-ever-day-as-temperatures-top-36c/ |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=Jersey Evening Post |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718175610/https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2022/07/18/jersey-records-hottest-ever-day-as-temperatures-top-36c/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the lowest temperature recorded was {{convert|&minus;10.3|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}, on 5 January 1894. 2022 was the warmest (and sunniest) year on record; the mean daily air temperature was {{convert|13.56|°C|°F|2|disp=or}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jersey's hottest year on record |url=https://www.gov.je/News/2023/pages/hottestyearonrecord.aspx |website=Government of Jersey |language=en |date=1 January 2023}}</ref> For tourism advertising, Jersey often claims to be "the sunniest place in the British Isles", as Jersey has over 1,900 hours of sunlight. Jersey is indeed one of the sunniest places in the British Isles, especially during the warmer months, as it is subject to more influence from the [[Azores High]], which acts as a blocking mechanism for [[Low-pressure area|depressions]] that originate in the North Atlantic and that produce stratiform clouds and rain; these are deflected northwards towards the UK mainland. The [[Azores High]] further reduces the type of convective cloud formations (particularly [[Cumulus cloud|Cumulus]] and [[Stratocumulus cloud|Stratocumulus]]) that are common over more northern and inland areas of the UK during summer through [[Subsidence (atmosphere)|subsidence]]. 

In 2011, Jersey generated controversy for calling itself "the warmest place in the British Isles" during an advertising campaign, as Jersey is neither the place with the highest maximum temperature in the British Isles ({{convert|40.3|°C|°F|1|disp=or}} was recorded in [[Coningsby]], [[Lincolnshire]] in July 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Record high temperatures verified |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2022/record-high-temperatures-verified |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Met Office |language=en}}</ref>) or the highest winter temperatures in the British Isles (which would be the [[Isles of Scilly]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 April 2011 |title=Isles of Scilly turn heat on Jersey over 'warmest place in Britain' claim |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/apr/10/isles-of-scilly-jersey-warmest-britain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320143448/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/apr/10/isles-of-scilly-jersey-warmest-britain |archive-date=20 March 2022 |access-date=29 March 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> 

Typical wind speeds vary between {{convert|20|kph}} and {{convert|40|kph}}. During the cooler months, [[Extratropical cyclone|extratropical cyclones]] can produce [[Gale|gales]] somewhat regularly. 

Snow is very rare in Jersey. The last significant snowfall event occurred in March 2013, when {{convert|14|cm|sigfig=2}} fell.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-03-12 |title=In pictures: Jersey gets more than 5.5 inches (14cm) of snowfall |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-jersey-21728801 |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The most recent measurable snowfall occurred on 8–9 January 2024, when {{convert|3|to|5|cm|in|sigfig=2}} fell.<ref>{{multiref2|1={{Cite web |title=Jersey Met issues Orange snow warning |website=Government of Jersey |url=https://www.gov.je/News/2024/pages/jerseymetorangesnowwarning.aspx |access-date=2024-07-25 |date=9 January 2024 |language=en|quote=In terms of snowfall accumulations, there is the potential for 3–5cm on higher ground, grass, fields and smaller lanes, with 1–2cm expected at sea level.}} |2={{cite news |title=Flights and schools disrupted after worst snowfall in nearly a decade |url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2024-01-09/channel-islands-wake-up-to-snow |work=ITV News |date=10 January 2024}} |3={{cite news |last1=Heath |first1=Richard |title=A topsy-turvy month of rain, wind, frosts and some snow |url=https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2024/02/02/a-topsy-turvy-month-of-rain-wind-frosts-and-some-snow/ |work=Jersey Evening Post |date=2 February 2024 |ref=none}} }}</ref> Initially, a fall of only {{cvt|0.5|cm}} had been forecast, so the event was more significant than expected.<ref>{{cite web |title=Weather advice for Jersey – cold temperatures and potential snow |url=https://www.gov.je/News/2024/pages/weatheradviceforjerseycoldtemperaturespotentialsnow.aspx |quote={{nbsp}}... any accumulations of sleet or snow are expected to be minimal, and not more than 0.5cm in Jersey|work=Government of Jersey |date=8 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Extreme weather is rare due to the island's mild climate. Spring and summer thunderstorms originating from the European mainland occasionally occur, but are usually not severe. Thunderstorms [[Advection#Meteorology|advecting]] north from the [[Bay of Biscay]] tend to occur during the summer if the influence of the [[Azores High]] temporarily weakens and a [[cut-off low]] develops in the region. Cool season thunderstorms are more common compared with other parts of Europe, as the relatively warm sea-surface temperatures drive moderate surface-based convection into the cold, dry air aloft. This tends to result in [[Hail|small hail]] and weak [[waterspout]]s driven by convection and frequent shear brought on by [[cold front]]s.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In November 2023, Jersey was hit by extratropical [[Storm Ciarán]], causing heavy rainfall, extremely high winds with gusts of up to {{convert|104|mph|0}}.<ref>{{Cite tweet |title=As wind speed increases we're seeing an increase in calls. ... |user=JsyFire |number=1719955319512563725}} – Jersey Fire & Rescue </ref> A [[supercell]] thunderstorm associated with the [[cold front]] of this system hit Jersey at around midnight on 2 November 2023. With severe [[wind shear]], exceptional [[storm-relative helicity]] and [[Atmospheric instability|temperature contrast of the upper atmosphere and sea surface]], the storm produced extremely large hail and a tornado, which devastated the eastern half of the Island and was subsequently [[TORRO scale|rated T6/EF3 by TORRO]], making it one of the most severe tornadoes ever recorded in the British Isles.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Jersey Tornado 1 November 2023. TORRO site investigation report |id=(SI20231101_Jersey) Storm Ciarán |last=Horton |first=Sarah |date=8 January 2024 |url=https://www.torro.org.uk/pdf/SI/SI20231101_Jersey.pdf |publisher=Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO)}}</ref>

The Government of Jersey's official meteorological department provides an accurate five-day forecast for Jersey and Guernsey, including detailed shipping forecasts and aviation forecasts. 

The following table contains the official data for 1981–2010 at Jersey Airport, located {{convert|7.2|km|order=flip}} from St. Helier.

{{Weather box
| location = [[Jersey Airport]], elevation 84m, 1981–2010
| collapsed = 
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 14.0
| Feb record high C = 18.0
| Mar record high C = 20.3
| Apr record high C = 25.0
| May record high C = 28.0
| Jun record high C = 33.0
| Jul record high C = 37.9
| Aug record high C = 36.0
| Sep record high C = 30.2
| Oct record high C = 26.0
| Nov record high C = 21.0
| Dec record high C = 16.0
| year record high C = 37.9
| Jan high C = 8.3
| Feb high C = 8.4
| Mar high C = 10.4
| Apr high C = 12.5
| May high C = 15.8
| Jun high C = 18.4
| Jul high C = 20.4
| Aug high C = 20.6
| Sep high C = 18.7
| Oct high C = 15.4
| Nov high C = 11.7
| Dec high C = 9.2
| year high C = 14.2
| Jan mean C = 6.3
| Feb mean C = 6.1
| Mar mean C = 7.9
| Apr mean C = 9.5
| May mean C = 12.6
| Jun mean C = 15.1
| Jul mean C = 17.2
| Aug mean C = 17.5
| Sep mean C = 15.8
| Oct mean C = 13.0
| Nov mean C = 9.6
| Dec mean C = 7.1
| year mean C = 11.5
| Jan low C = 4.3
| Feb low C = 3.8
| Mar low C = 5.3
| Apr low C = 6.5
| May low C = 9.3
| Jun low C = 11.8
| Jul low C = 13.9
| Aug low C = 14.3
| Sep low C = 12.9
| Oct low C = 10.6
| Nov low C = 7.5
| Dec low C = 5.0
| year low C = 8.8
| Jan record low C = -10.3
| Feb record low C = -9.0
| Mar record low C = -3.3
| Apr record low C = -1.6
| May record low C = 0.0
| Jun record low C = 5.9
| Jul record low C = 9.0
| Aug record low C = 7.7
| Sep record low C = 6.0
| Oct record low C = -2.6
| Nov record low C = -3.0
| Dec record low C = -4.0
| year record low C = -10.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 93.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 68.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 66.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 56.4
| May precipitation mm = 55.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 47.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 44.6
| Aug precipitation mm = 49.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 63.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 103.4
| Nov precipitation mm = 105.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 111.3
| year precipitation mm = 865.8
| Jan sun = 66.1
| Feb sun = 91.6
| Mar sun = 134.0
| Apr sun = 196.5
| May sun = 236.7
| Jun sun = 245.4
| Jul sun = 252.7
| Aug sun = 235.3
| Sep sun = 184.6
| Oct sun = 118.8
| Nov sun = 79.9
| Dec sun = 63.2
| year sun = 1904.8
| source = Met Office<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2015 |title=Jersey Climate Normals 1981–2010 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gbwxb1tp2 |access-date=8 May 2015 |publisher=[[Met Office]] |archive-date=21 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421214942/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gbwxb1tp2 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Voodoo Skies<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2015 |title=Jersey Climate Extremes |url=http://voodooskies.com/weather/united-kingdom/jersey/monthly/temperature |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060027/http://voodooskies.com/weather/united-kingdom/jersey/monthly/temperature |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=8 October 2015 |publisher=Voodoo Skies}}</ref>
}}