Several traditional festive sea swims across parts of the UK have been cancelled or postponed after weather forecasters issued wind warnings, raising safety concerns for swimmers and emergency services during the Christmas and Boxing Day period.
The Met Office issued a yellow warning for strong winds affecting coastal areas, particularly in south-west England, Wales and parts of the south coast. Forecasters warned of gusts exceeding 50mph in exposed locations, creating rough seas, large waves and dangerous swimming conditions. Organisers of popular Christmas Day and Boxing Day swims said the combination of strong winds, choppy waters and low sea temperatures made it unsafe for events to go ahead as planned.
In several coastal towns, long-standing festive swims that usually attract hundreds of participants were called off following advice from local authorities, coastguard teams and the RNLI. Event organisers said the decisions were taken reluctantly but stressed that public safety had to come first. Some communities are now looking at rescheduling their swims for later dates when conditions improve, while others have cancelled entirely for this year.
The cancellations come amid heightened warnings from emergency services after a number of weather-related incidents along the coast. On Christmas Day, coastguard teams were deployed to assist swimmers who got into difficulty in rough seas in parts of Devon, prompting renewed calls for the public to avoid entering the water during severe weather warnings.
Health and safety officials also cautioned that strong winds significantly increase wind chill, raising the risk of cold shock and hypothermia even for experienced cold-water swimmers. The UK Health Security Agency has advised people to take extra care during cold and windy conditions, particularly near open water.
Despite the cancellations, organisers praised the public for their understanding, noting that many festive swims are held to raise money for charity and can return in safer conditions. Authorities continue to urge people to check local forecasts, follow official guidance and respect event cancellations put in place to prevent serious accidents.
English