The weather

Hello everyone,

I’ve just driven back from a weekend at home and so haven’t really had the chance to prepare an extensive post. However, as I was being blown around on the M4 I thought I would share some tips regarding surviving the weather.

As you may have gathered, Swansea is notorious for it’s rain and wind. As the weather is turning colder for winter there are certain things you can do that can make it a bit easier to cope with the weather.

1. Invest in a good rain coat! Although you may be tempted to get an umbrella, I would say that a good rain or waterproof coat is a better investment. In Swansea we can experience some very strong winds and so an umbrella is hard-pressed to keep you dry under such conditions. There is nothing worse than going to lectures, or campus all day and you are damp from the rain.

2. A second tip I would say is beware of the paths in Singleton Park. The path that runs down a small hill that runs from the Brynmill entrance to the University entrance near the Abbey is prone to flooding. It is not always visible until you are ankle deep in a puddle. There is another path that runs along the top of the hill which although slightly longer does not tend to flood as much! Speaking from experience when I attempted to walk through the puddles and managed to wet my feet and get mud all over my shoes as well.

3. Take care when cycling! I know from experience that cycling in winter weather can be difficult and at times even dangerous, so take care when the winds are strong and make sure you wear the right clothing. In weather like this when cycling I always wear a helmet. Also, as the evenings are growing longer, there is a greater chance that if you cycle you will be cycling in the dark, so remember to have good lights on your bicycle and where possible make sure you are visible to cars (such as wearing reflectors or bright clothing).

Finally, just to mirror the warning email sent by the University, take care when walking to and from the University campuses. Where possible try to walk with others and stick to the main roads or paths that are well lit. Take care and hopefully this horrible weather will blow over soon!

Thanks for reading.