Warmest Year on Record

Ronaldsway Met Office says that 2023 was the was the warmest Manx year on record with a mean temperature of 11.3°C.

Ronaldsway records began in 1947.

The year broke a record dating all the way back to (checks notes) 2022.

March and November had average temperatures, all other months were warmer – especially June, which was the warmest on record. The island also had a new June record daily maximum, with 28.1°C on June 13– the hottest day of the whole year.

There was a big change in July, when we had the wettest July on record, with 144.9mm. The wettest day of the year was 23^rd of July with 35mm. March, September and December were also very wet, contributing to the annual total rainfall of 1023.1mm – the sixth wettest year on record.

The fine spell of weather in May and June was enough to bring the annual sunshine hours up to slightly above the average, despite all that rain. 1699.6 hours were burned onto the cards, with the best day being the June 14 with 15.6 hours.

The mean wind speed over the year was 12.4 knots, which is right on the average; the calm periods of May and June evened out by the windier months of October and December. The strongest winds of the year were during named storm “Debi” on November 13, when peak gusts of 61 knots (70mph) were recorded at Ronaldsway.

The months at a glance:

January: Mild, with the mean temperature about 1°C above average, and 50% more sunshine.

February: Very mild – the 2^nd warmest on record, with no air frost, just 17.2mm of rain, and no gales.

March: Very wet – 80% above average and the 4^th wettest on record. Average temperatures on the whole, but a “snow day” on the 9^th.

April: Temperatures, wind and sun close to average, but 30% more rainfall.

May: Very dry, and warm too. Just 16.4mm of rain – the 6^th driest on record.

June: The warmest June on record, also the hottest June day on the 13^th at 28.1°C.  Sunny too, with the entire TT fortnight dry.

July: The wettest July on record – 144.9mm at Ronaldsway, and the 2^nd windiest too.

August: Close to average, but no real warmth with only 1 day exceeding 20°C. Named storm “Betty” on the 18^th.

September: The warmest September on record, with a peak of 24.5°C on the 5^th, but also quite wet 40% more rain, and 2 days with gales, including named storm “Agnes”.

October: Warmer and wetter than average, with mild nights and no frost, but also windy, with named storm “Babet” on the 20^th.

November: Slightly drier, sunnier and less windy than average. Severe gales on the 13^th – named storm “Debi”, with gusts to 70mph.

December: Wet & Windy, with 50% more rain than average, and the 8^th highest mean wind speed. Mild though, with the 6^th highest mean temperature.