Jen Beachcomber

Morning All from the Coast of Pembroke All dry here so far, about to get the first of the showers barreling through. Already had a 50mph gust in the last hour, temp currently 6C I think the garden birds know it's getting colder today, just been out to feed them and already there's a 'munchfest' going on in the garden!!!

Love to think we would Andy honestly but the temps aren't just there for any snow to stay. While I don't disagree we won't get any I don't think it will stay for long... However for those that do... I WANT PICS or it did't happen Looking forward to seeing yours lovely

For all you Valley or 'High Up' Dwellers' Enjoy your snow, sincerely But for all of us Proud Coastal Dwellers, please spare us a thought, our temps or dew points are nowhere near anything that would concure to us getting any decent LYING snow... We might get a Flurry or two for an hour or two but it won't last... The low temps just aren't in there... PLEASE enjoy your snow for those that are getting some ! But it looks like here in Pembroke we may get a flurry or two but it won't settle... So please bare with us as we don't share your enthusiasm for snow... We'd love to honestly

Cleddau Bridge, Pembroke Dock NOW Closed to ALL Vehicles..

Freshwater West, West Wales. High tide 8am this morning, this was about as high as the tide got. A lot cooler in the wind down there than it was with Ophelia! Consistent gusts 40-50mph on the coast. Unlike Tenby where a freak wave ripped the harbourmasters office doors off !!! Consistent gusts here now 45-55mph

There was further up the coast.... but I'd love for you to see the video I managed to get I think you'd like it, seriously not after the likes and don't know how to link it but if you look up beachcombing freshwater west on Facebook you'll see it... I was so lucky to get it

Where did you end up karlos? and what did you peek at? I went to Freshwater West and my friend you lives a mile up the valley from the beach says her's peeked at 75mph about 4:30pm

Hello All I hope everyone survived Ophelia ok and now it seems we are in for another bashing this weekend!!!! I did go down to Freshwater West beach on Monday afternoon. I picked the least treeless route I could and drove down to the beach from the top Castlemartin side. I had a que of 4 cars following me!!! and when I got to the beach there were Campervans in the main carpark!!! I parked on the hill next to a bit of a dune and could still feel the car shaking. I went prepared as I read that the windchill from the winds would be in single digits. I wore my full winter beachcombing gear, insulated waterproof trousers and waterproof jacket. I already have a waterproof camera and took the monopod to help me hold the camera steady and also an old tea towel to keep the lens clean. AWESOME is the only way to describe it. At 2:30pm (2hrs before high tide) the waves were just about reaching the back of the beach. The horizon was just a huge mass of waves and looked so high. I found a dip overlooking the beach (well back from the edge) where I could have some shelter and spent the most exhilarating next couple of hours in awe of mother nature. I used up 2x 8gb cards and 2 camera batteries videoing and taking pictures. No rain just wind, alternating between glorious sunshine, grey clouds and rainbows. The wind was gusting I'm guessing at least 70mph at times and my friend who lives a mile up the valley overlooking Freshwest said her anemometer maxed out at 75mph at approx 4:30pm. I left just about high tide 4:45pm as I could see some ominous black clouds headed our way. There was no surge as such just immense power pushing the waves in. The splash did just reach the road above the beach and I watched more than one person get wet on the slipway from the carpark down to the beach. Ive added a few pics (I hope they work) and managed to get a great video of a backwash that moved the whole length of the beach, I'm not sure how to link it though?

Still a big hug for you I hate wind weather storms at night, I can't sleep but hopefully the worst of this one will be gone by the time we go to bed. Ex-Ophelia will be a real "gfuqhgfpjh" I can see, but my thoughts go out to those in it's path in Ireland. No sleep for them, Just think of her as a real gfuqhgfpjh we can still see in daylight and no matter what she throws at us we can still see what's happening. I don't think you're fear will ever go way but you can see what happening with this one and it didn't get any worse.. remember that... Goodness me, fear of a storm can be so overwhelming. I must be getting old because I now choose to face her "head on" and I like to see what she's going to throw at us next.. I'm off down the beach, mad - most definitely , will I survive - most probably, You don't have to just trust in forecasters anymore we have sooooo many helpful folk that are willing to share what they know on social media, I can honestly say I've hardly looked at an official forecast since this all started...

That's a bleeding shame, does no-one broadcast from the Narberth office anymore Ukwoody ?! I used to love listening to the snow forecasts during 2010... "Hello this is Joyce here I just wanted to let you know we have about 1" in Charles Street" ... "Hello this is Sharon here I just wanted to let you know it's snowing on the A40 between Narberth and Caneston Bridge the cars are sliding down the hill" "This is Jane here and there are cars struggling to get up the road between Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, it's chaos cos nobody can get up the hill, just wanted to let you know" it was brilliant and you knew just what was happening in the county... It would be a real shame if this didn't happen anymore...

Hi coldfingers1 I live in Pembroke, At the most we will get 70+ mph wind gusts more so on the coast than in Pembroke Dock, Trees may come down and as I recall for the last time we had storms this intense we kept our power and were ok. By Tuesday we will at the most be "mopping up" I sympathise with your worry, I'm sure your folks will be fine and if they want to listen to whats going on to tune into Radio Pembrokeshire, it's brilliant for when a storm is coming in. It's going to get a bit blustery for a while tomorrow and the Cleddau Bridge will probably shut. I'm sure they will be safe. I certainly don't want to make light of the situation but I'm sure we'll all be ok, just inconvenienced. Me (the mad bugger that I am) am planning to go down Freshwest to see what the storm surge brings... Hugs to you x

Thanks I will I love nothing more than a 'mooch' along Freshwest when it blowing 40mph gusts, I always think I'll be the only 'mad bugger' out there... lol... Indeed will it get a 'bulge' I'm fascinated to see. I shall be approaching from Castlemartin side it's much higher. I could go the Angle way and park in the small car park but I know the sand blowing off the dunes will be 'stinging' and it's likely that the road between there and the main carpark 'could' either be inundated from the surge or full of sand. I'm avoiding the main carpark as that's only approx 15-20ft higher than the beach and flat so 'could' in theory flood. Lets see what the predictions over the next 12hrs are??? It could be very interesting. Also you take care in Tenby although I know you are used to inclement weather as well, the harbour could be very interesting tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks I shall be watching with interest the track over the next 12hrs. "magic seaweed" put them at around 16-24ft for Freshwater West tomorrow afternoon, combined with a fairly small high tide which will come up approx 20ft from the back of the beach, I am absolutely intrigued to see how much impact the surge will have. I have been studying and beachcombing (beach cleaning) this beach since Jan2014 and trying to see where 'stuff' that gets 'washed up' comes from. Because of it's location It gets anything and everything washed up from the sea, from all over the world.

Agreed, The last time I saw the tide reach the back of Freshwater West beach was Dec15. The winds were about the same as forecast tomorrow but nowhere near as much surge. I am interested to see how much surge Ex-Ophelia has been pushing in front of her. No one is talking about it ?

Good luck Daniel the only thing I would suggest is to check the Pembrokeshire County Councils twitter feed in case there may be any trees down en-route. The road from Tenby to Manorbier is 'woody' in places. The tide times will be more or less the same as for Freshwest. I'm going for the Arena view I will have from Freshwest.. I just need to keep a check on wind speeds. I would add some pics for you if I can figure out how to do it. But you can get a street view of Freshwater West beach from google maps as the road runs right next to the beach

Hello all I happen to live in West Wales about 10mins inland from Freshwater West beach on the Pembrokeshire Coast. I am hoping to going down tomorrow afternoon to see how Freshwest is Taking on Ex-Ophelia. I shall be approaching through Castlemartin and will park high on the road. High tide tomorrow is 16:51 and will be 6.42m. This normally would not cause any concern for the beach. 'Magic Seaweed' surf forecast for tomorrow is waves of 5-8ft from 12 lunchtime with wind of 49mph rising to 16-24ft by 6pm with winds still 50mph. "If" the surge from Ex-Ophelia has any surge effect at all then it's tomorrow afternoon I would expect to see the waves rage... I shall not be parking in the main car parkas this is only approx 15-20ft higher than the beach and flat. Any storm surge should there could well flood the car park. I see there are a few other locals on here from my area all waiting with anticipation to see what will happen in our "neck of the woods" so to speak. I noticed someone else was going to travel to Manorbier beach to view the waves. Manorbier beach is very narrow and quite low, as is the carpark although far enough away from the beach to stop any surge. If you are going to view from there you will need to use the coastal footpath to gain any height and I would recommend you take the right hand fork as you view the beach from the carpark, you can get a better height and view from there, although the path is very close to the sea and you may get some sea spray. I have had permission this year to visit the beach right next door to Freshwater West it's called Frainslake. Access is extremely limited as it part of a live firing range, but I was down there this morning taking pictures just to see if Ex-Ophelia has any impact.