Dangerous Sea Conditions Expected This St Brigid's Bank Holiday Weekend
Strong winds expected to create very rough sea states this St Brigid's Bank Holiday weekend. Irish Coast Guard urges public to check conditions before coastal activities.
Irish Coast Guard, RNLI, and Water Safety Ireland have issued a joint appeal ahead of the St Brigid's Bank Holiday weekend, warning that strong winds are expected to create very rough sea states and large swells along the coast.
Following recent poor weather, storms, and heavy rainfall, the three organisations are urging the public to check weather and sea conditions before any coastal or water-based activities this weekend.
Storm waters and rising sea levels can quickly cut people off from safety or allow waves to reach places that are normally dry, leaving little or no time to escape. Keeping safe around water is everyone's responsibility and staying back from the water's edge can prevent tragedy.
Coastal visitors are also warned that the edges of waterside pathways may have been damaged in recent storms and could be unstable.
The appeal comes as year-round swimming and dipping continue to grow in popularity. Wind conditions can affect waves and swell, create rip currents and poor visibility, and increase cold exposure. Strong winds make open water riskier, even if the sky is clear.
Because water conditions can shift quickly, a calm morning can turn dangerous by afternoon. If the water looks rough, murky, or unpredictable, it may not be safe to enter, so err on the side of caution and do not get in.
For those swimming at this time of year, the organisations recommend wearing a wetsuit, brightly coloured swimming cap, and gloves to stay warm. Swimmers should acclimatise slowly and use a tow float to increase visibility.
The safety appeal stresses that swimmers should never swim alone and should always ensure that a colleague is monitoring their activity.
For the most up to date information on weather and conditions, the public should always check local forecasts.
If anyone sees somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or thinks they are in trouble, they should dial 112 or 999, or use VHF radio channel 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.
