City centre adventurer makes most of weather
WALES has been hit with some bad weather in the past week with more on the way.
But some people have taken advantage of the wet and windy conditions, with one daredevil taking on the rapid waters of the River Taff in Cardiff.
The kayaker was seen managing to manoeuvre their way through the rough waters at Blackweir before paddling off along a calmer section.
A passer-by couldn’t believe what she was seeing and managed to capture the impressive feat on video.
Jayne Catherall, from Rhiwbina, said: “My family and I were out for a walk along the Taff Trail and we couldn’t believe the height of the river and the sound of the crashing waves as we crossed the bridge down at Blackweir. Between the wind and the fast flow, trees and debris were being swept down.”
The 42-year-old added: “I was really surprised to see a canoeist get in and ride down through the rapids, I couldn’t work out whether they were brave or stupid.
“Whoever it was they managed not to capsize and get through the waves without issue, I was holding my breath the whole time.”
A spokesman for Cardiff International White Water (CIWW) in Cardiff Bay, said: “Luckily this kayaker seems to know what they’re doing, but we wouldn’t advocate paddling on your own.
“All it takes is something unexpected to happen and an inexperienced kayaker could find themselves in a very difficult situation – that’s why, before we even look at technique, the first thing we teach in all the white water courses we run at CIWW is moving water safety and how to read the river – these are key essential skills.”
A Met Office yellow weather warning for rain was in place until midnight yesterday with a further one running from 6am until 8pm today. It says that more heavy showers are likely across South Wales, with a small chance of disruption from flooding.
Temperatures are expected to plummet towards the end of the week as the remnants of Hurricane Lorenzo head for the UK.
The category two system is currently heading toward the Azores before it’s expected to cross the Atlantic.
While the jury is out on where exactly the storm will track, meteorologists say the UK should brace itself for more heavy rain, gale-force winds and chilly air toward the end of the week.
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: “There’s huge discrepancy in what the models expect the storm to do. Some models take it far to the north of the UK, another takes it across the South West, and then there’s some that have it crossing the north of England and Scotland.”
Though it’s unclear where the strongest winds and heaviest rain will occur, current forecasts are predicting wet and windy weather late on Thursday and into Friday across Wales.
Nicola added: “By the time it reaches us, it will be an ex-tropical storm. It will slow down and wind speeds will reduce. It won’t be a hurricane.”
However, gale force winds are likely with gusts expected to near 50mph at times.