Water Temperatures

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 24th Mar '12: 13C

Did my Sport Relief swim under ideal conditions. Unfortunately I have to keep near the bank where I'm in my depth of water. I have to keep stopping for a break because I don't have the stamina to swim "properly". I think I covered 300-400m in total.

My giving page: http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/wildswimmerpete

Wildswimmer Pete


Sport_Relief_weaver_24-3-12 by Wildswimmer Pete, on Flickr

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, 27th Mar '12: 15C

I've never recorded such high inland water temperatures in March, 15C is more typical of late April or May. River level is normal but the current is noticeably slack. Turbidity low with my hands visible submerged to waist depth. 15C is the generally accepted threshold above which non-acclimatised swimmers can swim without any thermal protection.

In fact this was my first swim of the season without boots, gloves nor helmet.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, 28th Mar '12: 15C

Water now greenish and slightly cloudy, much more so than yesterday so it looks like the unusually high water temperature has encouraged rapid alga growth.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

Queens Dock, Liverpool, 29th Mar '12: 11.5C

I was expecting sub-10C water temp because the sea temp in Liverpool Bay is still only around 9C.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Wye, Builth Wells, 10-4-12: 8.5C

Surprisingly cold for early April. River in spate and muddy.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 30th April '12: 9C

Much lower than the 15C recorded at the end of March. Running very fast and very muddy with flotsam all over the sailing club's lawn, so the river must have flooded during the past 36 hrs. Level now is slightly higher than normal. I did enter the water but only for a cold dip - there's no way I'd leave hold of the ladder. I'd end up in mid-stream amongst rest of the floating flotsam swirling past.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Spey, Aviemore, Highland, 8th May '12: 7.0C

Unfortunately much of the snow I saw on the Cairngorms web-cam had retreated to the tops, while the river was running fast, so much I kept away from the full current in mid-stream. Water was crystal clear.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

Pickmere, Cheshire, 10th May 12: 13C

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R.Weaver, Frodsham, Chesire, 12th May 12: 12C

River still somewhat muddy due to very heavy recent rain, but current is now its usual 1-2mph.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

Hatchmere, Delamere Forest, Cheshire 13th May '12: 14C

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 16th May '12: 13C

The water colour has changed subtly as the turbidity from mud reduces while suspended algae are giving a greenish tint.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, 22th May '12: 16C

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

Irish Sea, Leasowe (N.Wirral), 26th May '12: 17C

High tide which had come in across warm sandbanks. OK, isn't really "inland" but coastal sea temperatures give an indication of the water temperature in estuaries etc.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R.Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire 29th May '12: 24C

Felt like swimming in warm pea soup. The water was covered with bubbles of oxygen but the culprit is garden and commen algae. It's too early for blue-green cyanobacteria to form, and bear in mind that there are something like twenty strains, with only two of them actually toxic.

I took two temperature measurements, one at 400mm and another at the surface.

wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 1st June '12: 21.5C

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham 19th June '12: 16.5C

Compare with the previous post. Goes to show the effect of June's relentless cold and rain - at this time of the year the Weaver should be around 20C.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham 25th June '12: 14.5C

It's bad enough for water temperatures to be several degrees below the norm for the time of year, but still falling while approaching what should be the hottest months.

The current was a little more brisk than usual but the river was very muddy.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

North Sea, Aberdeen, incoming tide, 5th July '12: 13.5C

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 22nd July '12: 18C

Water temp is still a bit low for the time of the year - should be 20 - 21C. Water is only slightly turbid, while the current is very sluggish.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

BOGOF today:

Hatchmere, Delamere Forest, 7th Aug '12: 20C

R.Weaver, Frodsham. 9th Aug '12: 21C

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham 16th Aug '12: 21C

Water is slightly turbid and quite a brisk current. Most likely the previous day's heavy rain working down the catchment.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, 28th Aug '12: 20C

Again a brisk current after heavy overnight rain. Water clear this time with no visible turbity.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R. Weaver, Frodsham, 15th Sept '12: 17C

River had a very Autumnal aspect with not much of an algal tint. Current very slack.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

R.Thames, Runnymede (Old Windsor), 27th Sept. '12: 13C

Water clear but brisk current, several miles further upstream the river was described as needing caution when navigating.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

Hi All,

I was prevented from swimming by another bout in hospital, however it looks as though I can resume swimming very shortly and hopefully outdoors when I can restart recording water temps.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

First "cold" dip of the year:
River Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire 30-4-13: 14.5C

Yes - I took two readings in case I'd mis-read the thermometer the first time.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

River Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 7th May '13: 17C

Went in just in Speedos and swim-cap. Hopefully I can put away my neoprene gloves, boots and helmet until autumn. Current quite brisk, with water clarity good.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

Hatchmere, Delamere Forest, Cheshire: 13.5C

Given the icy, torrential rain earlier in the week I was gobsmacked to record 13.5C. In fact I'd gone in wearing my winter kit expecting 8-9C.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

River Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 3rd June '13: 18.5C

Water temp only just making normal for the time of the year. Current very sluggish, water greenish and slightly turbid. Level at usual level.

Wildswimmer Pete

[Wildswimmer Pete]

River Weaver, Frodsham, Cheshire, 6th June '13: 19.0C

Brisk current, water has lost its muddy turbidity and now just greenish from algae.

Wildswimmer Pete