DON’T BLAME IT ON THE WEATHERMAN
In Matt Gaw’s new book, In All Weathers, Matt immerses himself in the elements and discovers there is more than just good or bad weather. Ella Foote meets Matt in sunshine, they swim in the rain and shelter from the wind while they chat meteorology
We all love to immerse ourselves in cool, wild water but have you ever purposefully stood out in heavy rain to see how that feels? No? What if you got the same benefits as you did from your outdoor dip, would you spend more time embracing the rain rather than moaning about it?
Weather can make or break swim plans. A warm, sunny day can entice fair-weather swimmers into cool water, but fog, wind or a clap of thunder can cancel a swim immediately. One of the golden rules of outdoor swimming is to check the forecast and prepare for the conditions, but what does that even mean? Matt Gaw's new book, In All Weathers, not only simply explains how weather systems develop, but also shares tales of Matt purposefully immersing himself in all weathers and will help you understand how conditions can impact a swim.
“We seem to always think of weather in terms of good or bad,” says Matt. “Sun is often seen as positive, but I wanted to explore all weather and celebrate all forms. We have many more wet and windy days in the UK than traditional sunny days.”
Matt and I meet on a typical, changeable weather day in early April. We are on the Suffolk coast and there are large, grey clouds looming in an otherwise blue sky. It looks like it might rain while we swim, so while Matt looks excitedly at the horizon and the prospect of rain, I find myself wrapping up my dry kit as best as I can before sinking into the cool North Sea. “Britain doesn't really have weather, despite us always talking about it,” says Matt. “British weather is more whimsical. We don't have big weather events like other countries, despite facing more adverse events with rain and heatwaves, but if you go out there and experience all weather you witness more amazing moments. Like when the sun cuts through rain, transitions and movement in weather can be really special.”
Matt is a writer, journalist and English teacher. In All Weathers is his third book, his other work includes The Pull of the River –a book that explores British rivers and Under the Stars – a book that delves into darkness and night-time. Matt's child-like curiosity is what guides his interest and his work. “I don't ever think of myself as an expert,” says Matt. “Even at the end of a book. But I like to think readers are learning along with me when I explore the outdoors in this way. By looking at things with childish curiosity and sharing my understanding, hopefully makes it more authentic when reading it.”
There are some excellent weather facts and information sprinkled in-between personal tales, journeys and exploring. Did you know air in a thunder cloud is heated to 20,000 degrees Celsius – over three
times hotter than the surface of the sun? Or that there are five different types of fog? “I have a new appreciation for wind, it is the driving force behind our weather” says Matt. “As a teacher I hate it. When I first started teaching and the kids were acting a bit crazy, other teachers would blame the wind. I laughed then but there is research that backs up the theory.” During one study in American schools, when the wind speed was above force six the number of playground fights doubled.
Much like the mental health benefits we get from an outdoor swim, standing in the rain could give you a similar lift in mood. Negative ions, which when breathed in and enter our bloodstream, have been linked to biochemical changes that improve mood. Negative ions are most abundant around rivers, beaches and mountains but are also in rain. “It might seem miserable outside weather-wise, but going out into it can be beneficial,” says Matt.
As an English teacher Matt is also interested in how weather has inspired poets, artists and is part of our language in the UK. “It is in our greetings and in our metaphors for mood,” says Matt. “I even said this morning, ‘I feel under the weather', but that doesn't work anymore because I like being under the weather!” One thing I always remember from my GCSE English lessons was learning about pathetic fallacy, “we still teach that today,” says Matt. “Weather is ingrained in our language. It was like when I was exploring night for my book, Under the Stars, rain and night are often used as negative metaphors.” Which is why Matt wanted to explore all weather to begin with.
Annual sunshine in the UK averages about 54 days a year and when we do get prolonged sunshine in summer, it can now lead to uncomfortable heat. “Weather can connect you to the past, ground you in the present, but also give you a glimpse into the future,” says Matt. “We need to celebrate and enjoy all forms of weather, especially as it could become something very different.” It seems strange to discuss weather without considering climate change. “It is hard to look at individual weather events and say, it is because of climate change,” says Matt. “But if you look at weather patterns and temperature shifts, it is hard not to be dismayed. We often don't notice weather until it is extreme but what I hope is that we can find a way back to noticing smaller elements of our environment and ecology, tune into them and start thinking about how we are impacting the world.”