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Safety | Weather Conditions
Weather Conditions
The weather has a huge impact on outdoor swimming, in terms of water and air temperature, how well you can see and be seen and how safe you are.
Consequently, no two outdoor swims are likely to be the same – and your times will vary dramatically.
It is also highly probable that conditions will change during a swim.
Every weather condition poses a particular problem, even bright sunshine, which will increase the risk of sunburn or sunstroke.
The difficulties posed by fog, wind, snow and rain are probably more apparent, particularly if extreme.
The important factor is common sense, while there are things you can do to control the risks.
Take an advance look at the weather forecast, weigh up the affects the time of year will have - if it’s spring there could be heavy showers; if it's autumn there could be sudden fog; if it’s summer the sun could be stronger than it seems; if it’s winter the air temperature could drop dramatically. Be prepared to come out of the water at any stage of your swim, only swim in weather you know you will be comfortable in, assess how well used or not your stretch of water is, gauge how remote your chosen area is, wear the appropriate kit for the conditions (consider a wetsuit if you have the slightest doubt about the water temperature), and ensure you acclimatize properly.
It is vital that you always have a viable back-up plan you can revert to if necessary.