Is it Safe to Open Water Swim in the Rain?
Swimming in open water always seems more tempting when the sun’s out, but swimming in the rain can sometimes be a wonderful experience so long as you do so safely.
Open water swimming is on the rise and is always increasingly popular during the summer months, particularly on warm days. But this is the UK after all, and if you’re training for an event, you may not have the luxury of good weather all the time. So, is it safe to swim in the rain and if it is, what’s the best way to go about it?
We can absolutely confirm that swimming in the rain is perfectly safe under the right conditions and often, can be enjoyable too. So if you’re brave enough to give it a try, here’s our guide to open water swimming in the rain.
Things to Consider for Open Water Swimming In The Rain
Visability
There’s a big difference between a gentle springtime shower and a torrential downpour and whilst one is unlikely to affect the environment around you, the other may stop you from being able to see where you’re headed. If you’re swimming in a lido or an outdoor pool, having poor visibility isn’t ideal but may not be dangerous. However if you’re in the ocean it’s always advisable to be able to see the shore from where you are and poor weather may affect that. Likewise in the sea or a lake, there may be boats or other water traffic that will be unaware of your presence if they can’t see you. And whilst you can carry a whistle to be heard and a tow float to be seen and to use as a dry bag, if the rain is very heavy, they may not be able to hear you either. Make a judgement call for yourself but our advice is that if you’re struggling to see where you’re going, it’s better to not swim at all.
Conditions
Sometimes, it’s not as simple as just a drop of rain and there are occasions that a thunderstorm may be on the approach. The advice from The National Lightning Safety Institute is “If you can see it, flee it; if you can hear it, clear it.” and this makes sound sense to us too. Don’t go open water swimming during a thunderstorm and if you happen to be caught in one, it’s a good time to make your way back to land. This even applies to outdoor pools as it’s possible for lightning to strike the pipes. It’s unlikely that many pools will open in extreme weather, but it’s worth considering should you be caught unexpectedly.
Location
As mentioned previously, the location you’re in may affect whether you feel safe to swim in the rain and not just because your visibility may be affected. In the ocean in particular, bad weather can mean choppier waters than usual and will ultimately be harder to swim in. Likewise, in most natural bodies of open water, the currents can change and even if you think you know the water well, during a storm, it can feel quite different.
Another, slightly alarming consideration is that heavy rain can cause overflows from sewage or waste into certain areas. Whilst you may wish to avoid these areas completely, it’s particularly important to do so during or after a heavy downpour. The Rivers Trust have an excellent resource for those in England to check whether your river is at risk from potential sewage. Likewise, the Surfers Against Sewage provide this useful app for checking your nearest river or sea nationwide.
Who you’re with
In general, we would never advise open water swimming alone unless you’re experienced, but this goes double when it’s raining. If you happen to be caught in a rainstorm and something does go wrong, having an experienced open water swimmer with you is important as they will likely understand the best thing to do in an emergency. The safest option is to swim with an open water swimming coach, either as a group class or in a one to one session. Check out our coach finder, to find your nearest coach.
Temperature
Swimming in the UK in open water is always going to be a chilly affair and if you’re new to the sport, acclimatising by dipping or using cold water showers is always advisable. Whilst a springtime shower might not change the temperature dramatically, bad weather in general tends to bring colder climates along with it. This might not be an issue for the hardier swimmer, but if you’re new to open water swimming, you may experience something called ‘After Drop’ once you leave the water, particularly if it’s a cold day. This can be avoided by ensuring you have warm clothes and a non-alcoholic hot drink at hand. A top tip is to get dressed quickly, starting from the top and ensure all your clothes are kept dry, so they’re nice and toasty for when you put them on.
Whilst it is important to take these things into consideration, open water swimming in the rain can be a wonderfully pleasant experience. A light shower on a warm day can really add to the sensation of being in the water and if you feel safe and confident to do so, we would recommend giving it a try!