Overview
- The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for south west England and Wales on Christmas Day, with gusts widely at 45–55mph and up to 65mph on exposed coasts and large waves expected.
- The UK Health Security Agency announced a yellow cold-health alert for south west England from 6pm on December 25 to noon on December 27 due to risks to vulnerable people and pressure on services.
- Long-running events were cancelled or moved, including Coverack in Cornwall for the first time in 57 years with a new date set for New Year’s Day, plus Torcross, Teignmouth and Torbay’s Torre Abbey dips.
- Authorities warned that relatively mild sea temperatures can still trigger cold water shock and reiterated RNLI “Float to Live” guidance for anyone who ends up in difficulty.
- Hundreds still took part in Christmas Eve dips, including around 500 swimmers at Helen’s Bay in County Down raising funds for Dementia Northern Ireland and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.