Britain's festive plans have been dramatically disrupted by a powerful storm system, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for wind that has scuppered traditional Christmas and Boxing Day events across the South West.
Met Office Issues Christmas Day Wind Warning
The national forecaster's alert is active from 4am until midnight on Christmas Day, predicting dangerous gusts reaching up to 65 miles per hour. These fierce northeasterly winds are expected to batter exposed coastlines with particular intensity on December 25th.
Inland areas will not escape the blustery conditions, with widespread gusts of 45-55mph forecast. The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a separate yellow cold-health alert, adding to the public health concerns during the holiday period.
Historic Festive Swim Cancellations
The severe conditions have led to unprecedented cancellations. Organisers of the annual Coverack Christmas Day swim in Cornwall have taken the difficult decision to postpone the event for the first time in its 57-year history.
In a statement, they cited the forecast, saying it would be 'too dangerous' to proceed. The beloved community swim has been rescheduled for New Year's Day.
The disruption extends to Boxing Day traditions. The Start Bay Inn at Torcross in Devon announced with 'real sadness' that its annual swim was cancelled entirely due to the rough north-easterly wind making conditions at the beach untenable.
RNLI and Council Events Called Off for Safety
Further along the coast, RNLI Teignmouth made the 'difficult decision' to cancel its popular Boxing Day walk in the sea event, which typically draws hundreds of participants in support of the lifesaving charity.
An RNLI spokesperson acknowledged the disappointment but stressed that 'safety considerations must come first'. Similarly, Torbay Council cancelled its Boxing Day Dip at Torre Abbey Sands in Torquay on advice from the RNLI, citing large swells and easterly winds producing dangerously rough seas.
The council's statement, referencing the involvement of the 200 Squadron, emphasised that while the cancellation was disappointing, 'the safety of all participating is paramount'. The high winds are generating massive waves along the Torbay coastline, posing a significant risk to swimmers.
The combination of powerful gusts and large coastal swells has created a hazardous environment, forcing communities to prioritise safety over tradition during this unusually stormy Christmas period.
