Staying safe at the beach is now within easier reach

An unsettled weather forecast may present challenges for some intending to visit the coast this Easter weekend, and making it even more important to keep checking the weather forecast.

For anyone using the refreshed Met Office weather app, they will not only be able to keep on top of the weather but also access forecast information and advice for 500 of the most visited beaches across the UK and the Channel Islands.

Popular or iconic beach locations included with the Met Office app refresh are:

• Rhossili Bay, in Wales
• Bamburgh Castle beach, in Northumberland
• Porthcurno Beach, in Cornwall
• Portstewart Strand, in Northern Ireland
• West Wittering beach, in West Sussex

Annie Shuttleworth is a Met Office weather presenter. She said: "New features to the Met Office weather app, especially tide times and safety advice complement the existing weather forecast information, giving everyone access to beach safety information and the weather forecast within a single view.

"We have worked with the RNLI - our water safety partner - to provide a range of information that will help all visitors to get the most out of their seaside visit."

The new suite of additional features will include:

• Safety advice, including rip current information, wind and wave safety, and general beach safety
• Times for high and low tide,
• Sea information, including lowest and highest wave height for the day
• A card to show when a location is near one of the 500 beaches and a link to that beach forecast

In the next weeks, additional features will be added:

• Sea-surface temperature.
• Hourly breakdown of wave height
• Addition of unit preferences enabling users to select for example between feet and metres for wave height.

The new information is complemented with simple tips to help visitors make the most of their visits to our coastlines and beaches.

Samantha Hughes, RNLI Water Safety Partner, said: "If you're heading to the coast over the Easter holidays, it's important to check the weather forecast and be prepared - the air temperatures may be warming up but the water temperatures are still cold. With many lifeguards back on the beaches for the holidays choose a lifeguarded beach and if you're planning a swim stay between the red and yellow flags.

"If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, or see someone struggling, remember float to live. Relax and try to breathe normally. Tilt your head back and submerge your ears. Use your hands to help you stay afloat - it's okay if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety. In a coastal emergency don't forget to call 999 and ask for the coastguard."

The refreshed Met Office app is available for iOS and Android users. Existing users will need to update their app manually if they don't have the automatic updates function already selected to benefit from the beach feature.

The new functionality within the app complements popular features including:

• Interactive maps for cloud, rain, temperature and weather warnings enabling users to track the path of rainfall and see where it's heading next.
• Sunrise and sunset times
• Hourly symbols, as well as daily symbols, to help users obtain more information and context on days when the weather is changeable
• A wind card - detailing wind speed, gust speed and direction for your chosen location
• Video forecasts to provide even more contextualised advice to augment the other information on the app

You can find more information on water safety here https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/travel/out-and-about/10-beach-safety-tips

The Met Office weather app is available in versions for:

Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.gov.metoffice.weather.android&hl=en_GB

iOS

https://apps.apple.com/si/app/met-office-weather-forecast/id1068146838