A severe weather warning has been issued along the Welsh coast as the remnants of Hurricane Erin are set to bring powerful surf from Monday evening into Tuesday. The RNLI has warned of powerful rip currents and strong tidal water movements as the storm brings unsettled weather to Europe.
At its peak, Hurricane Erin was a Category Five storm, generating wind speeds of 160mph as it passed over the eastern coast of the United States before weakening as it crossed the Atlantic.
US meteorologists have said it was the second-largest hurricane recorded, behind only the devastating Hurricane Sandy. The news comes just hours after a Met Office weather maps showed ‘600-mile rain bomb’ from Hurricane Erin.
A statement from RNLI Criccieth read: “The remains of Hurricane Erin are forecast to bring big, powerful surf to our coast from Monday evening into Tuesday. Southerly and westerly facing beaches are likely to see the biggest waves, forecasts show swells of up to 2.5m arriving alongside spring tides.”, reports Wales Online.
The Coastguard has warned of:
- strong rip currents and powerful tidal water movement
- dangerous conditions for swimmers, paddleboarders, surfers and boat users
- busy beaches with holidaymakers at risk of being caught out
If you’re caught in a rip, the Coastguard advised:
- not to fight it as you’ll tire quickly.
- If you can stand, wade back or swim parallel to the shore until you’re free.
- If you can’t escape, float to preserve energy, wave and shout for help
If you see someone in difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.