Warning to beachgoers as winds and swell batter Welsh coasts
No-swim red flags out with debris and rip currents among the hazards
Last updated 20th May 2021
Beachgoers in Wales are being warned not to try their luck with heavy swells and strong winds battering our coasts throughout today and tomorrow.
The red flag is flying at lifeguard patrolled beaches here - that means no swimming.
Weather and surf charts show large swells and strong winds through into tomorrow.
Jasper Addey is Senior RNLI Lifeguard at Langland Bay on Gower.
"We've got some really rough conditions today. Really big waves, water moving in all sorts of directions and we've got some debris floating around in the water.
"Throughout today we've got gale force winds picking up. They are continuing throughout the night and tomorrow we're looking at very similar conditions, if not possibly worse."
He explains what its like to be caught out by the conditions:
"Total shock to the system. You have so much more respect for the water when you are in conditions like this because you feel almost like a toy. Its just waves to the face, and its described as the washing-machine effect, being tumbled in the water. It can be relentless."
The advice from the RNLI if you do find yourselves in difficulty is to stay calm and float on your back, while if you see someone struggling, call 999.