Warning of 15-foot waves and sudden surges along coast

Thursday, 29 January 2026 15:44

The RNLI is warning of large swell conditions around the coast on Friday, with waves of up to 15 feet forecast.

The charity says there is a risk of sudden surges on exposed beaches and along sea and harbour walls, which could catch people unaware because of the long time between wave sets.

Steve Instance, RNLI Water Safety Lead for the South West, said the swell period is a particular cause for concern. He said:

“Current forecasts for Friday are predicting wave heights between 10-15 feet, which isn’t unusual for this time of year, however what makes this particularly worrying is the long lull, or swell period between the waves.

Surf forecasts are predicting a 17 second swell period. What this looks like is a gap between sets of very large, very powerful waves of up to 15 minutes. This could mean, particularly close to high tide in the middle of the day, people walking on beaches or along sea fronts will be faced will a sudden surging set of waves racing 2-300 metres up the beach, or topping over sea or harbour walls. There is a risk this could catch walkers out and in the worst case sweep them off their feet into the sea.

We’ve seen so many times how easy it is to get caught out by the sea, and we know that nearly half of people who die at the coast never intend to go into the water. Our advice is to keep well away from what will be wet and slippery cliff edges, sea fronts and beaches on Friday.

If you do plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea, let someone know where you are going and carry a means of calling for help.”

The RNLI is also reminding people of its Float to Live advice. Steve Instance added:

“If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are submerged, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as best as you can until you get control of your breathing. If you see someone else in danger in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. If you have something that floats that they can hold on to, throw it to them. Don’t go in the water yourself – you could end up in difficulty too.”

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