Record sea heatwave grips Wales but not all visitors will be welcome
Exotic sea creatures could start being washed up on Welsh beaches as water temperatures soar, scientists believe. The UK and Ireland in the grip of a marine heat wave with some waters now 4C warmer than usual for the time of year.
Already a surge in sea and land temperatures has seen more people flocking to beaches, with warmer waters reducing the cooling effect of sea breezes. However, Britain's waters remain distinctly chilly for most swimmers and toe-dippers.
The heatwave is most intense in the Celtic Sea and off the west coast of Ireland, where current sea surface temperatures are up to 4C warmer, according to the Met Office. Around the UK coastline, the sea is 1.5C-2.5C warmer, with hotspots in Cardigan Bay and along the North Wales coast.
These temperatures are 'what we would usually expect around mid-June,' said the national forecaster. Classing the event as 'extreme', the Met Office said surface temperatures (SSTs) reached levels for April and May that were the highest since satellite monitoring began in 1982.
Not only is the heatwave significant due to its intensity, observers have been surprised by its longevity. So far it's lasted more than two months: usually, marine heatwaves in UK waters dissipate after two to four weeks. Sea temperatures are finally expected to start dropping in the coming days as cooler weather settles over Britain.
Dr Ségolène Berthou, scientific manager for regional coupled modelling at the Met Office, said: 'The heatwave is the result of several overlapping factors. Prolonged high-pressure systems brought a dry, sunny spring and weak winds and waves, creating ideal conditions for warming.
'This means the sea started to warm mid-February, one month earlier than usual. Additionally, the waters around the UK were already warmer than usual coming out of winter, a trend that has been building over the past 40 years, with an average increase of 0.3C per decade.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Climate change is causing oceans to warm around the globe and is making marine heatwaves more likely. On May 19 the average UK sea surface temperature reached 12.69C – well above the country's marine heatwave threshold for May (11.3C).
Scientists suspect warmer waters could increase the annual influx of jellyfish to UK shores. Already a number of sightings have been made of the huge barrel jellyfish washed up on beaches in Gwynedd and Ceredigion.
A marine expert has warned it could see other exotic and unusual sea creatures arriving on Welsh shores in greater numbers. Frankie Hobro, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, Brynsiencyn, believes some may pose a greater risk to beachgoers, underlining the need for greater awareness of marine medicine.
Some might be first-time visitors, other more mature versions of juveniles currently spotted in UK waters. While many will be welcome, such as bluefin tuna, sunfish and basking sharks, others will not, she said. Candidates include pufferfish and Box jellyfish, one of the most poisonous animals on Earth.
Others already on British beaches could become more of a pest, such as the weever fish. This little critter buries itself in the and can deliver an excruciating sting. Another occasional visitor which also packs a powerful sting is the Portuguese man o' war, which could arrive in larger numbers and sizes, said Frankie.
Algal blooms are also expected to become more commonplace due to calmer and warmer seas., with patches of green algae developing that can threaten other marine life. On the plus side, bioluminescence displays next to beaches may become more numerous and spectacular.
However, heat stress could drive other marine life away from Britain's shores. 'There is no escape from the heat for sea creatures within it,' Frankie told North Wales Live. 'They can't turn on air conditioners under water, or escape it.'
While the warmer waters might be discernible to some swimmers, they are still distinctly nippy for the casual bather. Dr Berthou said temperatures in the North Sea have already peaked, whereas west Ireland and the Celtic Sea are currently experiencing their highest levels.
During marine heatwave events, a layer of warm water forms at the surface. She added: 'This layer acts like a lid, trapping heat near the surface and preventing it from mixing into deeper, cooler waters.
'It can be compared to a layer of olive oil floating on water; this thin surface layer allows heat from solar radiation to accumulate near the surface. When this layer forms, surface temperatures can increase fast: the last nine days have seen a sudden additional 1C warming.'
Dr Jonathan Tinker, a Met Office marine climate scientist, said the prolonged warming can amplify land heatwaves by reducing the cooling effect of sea breezes and by altering rainfall patterns. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
He added: 'With projections suggesting UK summer sea temperatures could rise by up to 2.5C by 2050, such events are likely to become more frequent, intense and longer-lasting. Marine heatwaves offer a glimpse into how changing ocean conditions could shape future weather conditions.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Wales Online
Met Office issues 13 hour thunderstorm warning for North Wales
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The Met Office has issued a 13 hour thunderstorm warning for parts of North Wales. The yellow alert comes into effect at midnight tonight and lasts until 1pm tomorrow (Thursday) covering Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy. People have also been warned of heavy rain and potential flooding, with high winds also forecast in areas. A Met Office forecast said: "An area of rain will move northwards across parts of southwest England and Wales during Thursday morning, before clearing later. "The rain will be locally heavy with thunderstorms. A few places perhaps receiving 10-20 mm of rain in an hour, and 30-40 mm in 3 hours or less, leading to a risk of disruption. Winds will also be strong at times, perhaps gusting to 40-50 mph around hills and coasts." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox People were advised to take extra care amid the storms. "Keep yourself and others safe; prepare to avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous road conditions. If you must travel, ensure you watch for possible danger and drive cautiously," the Met Office said. "It is not safe to drive, walk or swim through floodwater, avoid it where possible and if you are affected by fast flowing or deep-water call 999, and wait for help. "Being outside in high winds and/or lightning makes you more vulnerable to injury. If outside, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings or trees, or other structures which could be struck by lightning. If you hear thunder, and are unable to get to a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car), crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked in and hands over your ears making minimal contact with the ground, away from objects that conduct electricity. "Before gusty winds arrive, check to ensure moveable objects or temporary structures are well secured. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, gazebos, sheds, and fences. "Stay up to date with the weather forecast for your area and follow advice from emergency services and local authorities." Find the weather forecast where you live
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Dog owners urged to ‘keep pets indoors' until 6pm from tomorrow
DOG owners have been urged to keep their pets indoors all day from tomorrow, as temperatures across the UK soar. Pooch owners are advised to keep their canines inside the house during the hottest parts of the day from 9pm on Thursday, June 12 to 8am Sunday, June 15. 2 Pet owners are urged to keep their dogs inside this week Credit: Getty 2 Temperatures across the UK are set to soar this week Credit: Met Office The warning comes from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), who have issued the first yellow heat health warning of the year. The UKHSA said: "If you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening." The yellow warning applies to the East Midlands, South East, East of England, and London. It states that the hot weather will lead to "greater risk to life of vulnerable people", and "increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people." It adds that Brits should learn the symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion so that they can help out others who are suffering in the extreme heat. The Met Office predicts temperatures up to 30C on Friday in some areas and has also issued yellow thunderstorm warnings as the warmer weather arrives. The hottest parts of the day are typically between 12pm and 6pm so dog walkers should avoid bringing their pooches inside during this time. The RSPCA warned: "Dogs should have regular exercise and involving them in your outings and family fun is expected, but if the weather is warm, it can be too much for our dogs." The animal charity added that dogs with health conditions, flat-faced breeds such as pugs and pooches with thick coats are most at risk. "As dogs rely on their respiratory system to keep cool, unfit and overweight dogs and those with heart or respiratory disease are more likely to heat up faster and take longer to cool down", it said. Urgent warning to dog owners over room in home that could prove deadly to pets Eve, a veterinary nurse from the UK and a dog mum-of-three recently took to TikTok to share a warning for dog owners. She said: "The temperatures are rising and taking your dog on a walk is not worth risking their life. 'Do it responsibly - 6am in the morning, 8pm at night when it's nice and cool.' Dog breeds most susceptible to overheating In general, there are six groups of dogs who struggle most in hot weather... Firstly, those with underlying health problems. Dogs can't sweat like we can, so rely largely on panting to cool down. However, if they have airway or lung impairments, or suffer from fluid balance or hydration issues, then this is more difficult, and their ability to lose heat is reduced, meaning they are at a higher risk of heat-stroke. Overweight animals find it harder to ventilate, and their core temperature rises faster than you'd expect for a lean dog. Very young dogs or very old dogs are also at increased risk of heatstroke, and these owners should be even more cautious in hot weather. Dogs with very thick coats, who are adapted to a colder climate. Dogs such as the Husky or Malamute - and even the Chow Chow - have been bred to keep heat in. However, this comes at the price of being less well able to cope in hot weather. Their thick double coats effectively trap heat, making it the equivalent of us going out in the July heat wearing a fur coat and thermal underwear: they get very hot, very quickly. This problem can be alleviated by clipping (NOT shaving), however, the coat can take a long time to grow back. In a heatwave, though, if you're struggling to keep your dog cool, I'd personally rather have a dog with a thinner coat who's alive than a luxuriously coated dog in the morgue. Short-nosed, or brachycephalic, breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs. These dogs have been bred to look "cute", with big eyes and flat faces. Unfortunately, the result of this has been a narrowing of the airways and a profusion of soft tissue in the nasal chambers and pharynx - we call this Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, and it profoundly affects their ability to pant and lose heat. Like a dog with any other respiratory disease, most members of these breeds are highly prone to heatstroke, and as they are often overweight as well, are at very high risk in hot weather. When is it too hot to walk my dog? Kathleen Pohl, a vet from Pet Health Club revealed the the ideal temperature to walk your dog in is between five and fifteen degrees. Up to around 23 degrees it is ok to lightly exercise your dog but any strenuous exercise could put them at risk of heat stroke. However, when temperatures rise from 24 up to 27 degrees, according to this vet: 'Most dogs will find the heat very uncomfortable - while it's not immediately life threatening, prolonged exposure can lead to overheating and exhaustion." However, the vet warned that any temperature above 32 degrees is extremely dangerous for dogs. The vet highlighted: 'At this level there's a high risk of life threatening heat stroke. "Dogs can suffer from dehydration, rapid heart rate, even organ failure.' She added: "Remember, a dog has never died from skipping a walk, but they die every year from heat stroke. Don't walk your dog in the heat.'
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Pollen bomb' warning as levels soar across England and Wales: Map reveals the areas where hay fever sufferers will be worst hit - so, is your hometown at risk?
It's a condition that affects roughly one in four people in Britain. And if you suffer from hay fever, you might want to stock up on anti-histamines. A 'pollen bomb' is set to hit the UK today, the Met Office has revealed. 'Have you been sneezing today?' the national weather and climate service asked on X. 'Pollen levels are currently very high across most of England and Wales.' Except for North East England, every region of England and Wales has 'very high' levels today - with the East of England, and London & South East England continuing to suffer through Thursday. Thankfully, the pollen bomb should subside by the weekend - although it's bad news if you were planning to hit the park to sunbathe. 'Levels dipping tomorrow as rain arrives,' the Met Office added. @lillian3600 never been hit by hay fever but Holy Ghost I couldn't breathe ♬ growth - Gede Yudis The 'pollen count' literally predicts the amount of pollen grains per cubic metre of air. The Met Office predicts the upcoming pollen count by combining measurements of pollen in the air with predicted weather patterns to work out how the pollen will spread. What is considered a high pollen count varies depending on the type of plant. For grass pollen, a reading of between 50 and 150 grains of grass pollen per cubic metre is considered high. Manwhile, a reading between 81 and 200 is considered high for birch pollen. Across the UK, the Met Office deisgnates each region one of five symbols, ranging from '-' (no significant pollen) to 'VH' (very high). On today's map, South West England, London & South East England, East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales, North West England, and Yorkshire & Humber have all been designated as 'very high'. North East England, Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders, Central, Tayside & Fife, Strathclyde, and Northern Ireland will experience 'high' levels. Meanwhile, people in Grampian will only have 'medium' levels, while those living in Highlands & Eilean Siar, and Orkney & Shetland can relax, with 'low' levels forecast. The news will come as no surprise to many Londoners, who have complained of high pollen levels for weeks. On social media, residents have complained of tight chests, red eyes, and brain fog as they walked through the parks. In a video posted to TikTok, one user said: 'I felt like I had literal shards of pollen going into my eyes. 'Please tell me I'm not the only one because that was scary and I need to know how to prepare for the rest of summer if it's going to be like this.' Conditions have been so bad that even those who normally don't suffer from hay fever say they have been affected. One commenter wrote: 'I thought it was just me. I've never had an issue with hay fever until this weekend.' Piers Morgan was one of those affected by the pollen bomb, tweeting: 'Anyone else got shocking hay fever in London today? 'Even trusty Fexofenadine barely touching the wheezing, sneezy, fog-brained sides..' Thankfully, the pollen levels across much of the country will subside within a matter of days. The Met Office's forecast shows that by Saturday, most of England will have 'medium' or 'high' levels, while Scots will be able to rest easy, with 'low' levels across the country.
