Wind , rain but tomorrow something exceptional

[Graham Easterling]

22mm of rain here in Penzance since around 07:00. It's also been very windy, up to around 60mph on exposed cliff tops.

But tomorrow something quite exceptional. Swell height forecast, in meters.

That's the significant wave height, the biggest waves will be around 50% bigger. Om top of which the waves have been building in mid Atlantic for a long time, and therefore have a long period, and huge amount of energy. For Fistral, Newquay

Energy in kj, 25,000kj is rarely reached, perhaps once a year. 

Also big tides.

Wave height not that high at the moment - 3m or so on the north coast, but that's all set to change in the early hours of tomorrow.

Graham

Penzance

[Graham Easterling]

Swell peaked at 7.7m at Sevenstones.

Sennen 2 hours before high tide. That's the lifeboat slip on the right, imagine going out in a relatively small boat into that. As the winds WSW, and the harbour faces north, it's sheltered! Go round the headland and it's a wild world.

Graham

Penzance

[Graham Easterling]

In the shelter of Mount's Bay, where the swell was a mere 3-4m , someone decided to go for  swim.

Penzance promenade rescue

Penlee Lifeboat was tasked by Falmouth Coastguards at 8:45pm on 6 December 2025 to a person reportedly in the water shouting for help off Penzance promenade. Considering the weather conditions Penlee’s all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat the 'Ivan Ellen' was launched immediately under the command of coxswain Patch Harvey with a crew of six RNLI volunteers.

Patch commenced the search launching the Y-boat from Ivan Ellen and then requested further assistance from the B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat which would be efficient searching in shallow water.

The 'Mollie and Ivor Dent' with Will Treneer at the helm and a crew of three RNLI volunteers joined the search in a WSW force 5-6 wind and with a three metre swell which caused problems as the swell bounced off the sea wall. Penzance Coastguard Cliff Team were also on scene and located casualty struggling to stay afloat.

Under the lifeboat flood lights the casualty was found in a poor state and going under. He was recovered by the Yboat helmed by crewman Treeve Perry and quickly taken to the all-weather Lifeboat where he was made comfortable with blankets and the start of the warming process. On return to Newlyn the casualty was carried up to the lifeboat station on a stretcher and warmed until paramedics arrived after which the casualty was handed over to the ambulance service.

Coxswain Patch Harvey said… “Fourteen RNLI volunteers turned out tonight to offer their service. The crews did a great job, they have definitely saved a life tonight.”

Graham

Penzance