If you were out and about in Sydney over the weekend you might have noticed more shorts, singlets and sunnies than normal for autumn. And if you were at Bronte beach, then you would have definitely seen summer-like crowds across its lawns, pools and shoreline.
Experts say an unusually warm April is likely to result in more beach weather in time for the Easter long weekend. And while that’s music to the tanned ears of some, Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce is gearing up for the worst.
“Over summer, we’ve seen nearly over 1 million more visitations to the beaches up and down the NSW coastline than the same time last year. That just really reflects what I think we’re anticipating for the long weekend,” Pearce said.
“We are throwing nearly everything at it because we know how busy it is during the long weekend. People are two to three times more likely to drown on a long weekend like this than any other time during the year – that’s the reason why we just want to be so vigilant.”
In NSW, rates of drowning are four times higher on public holidays, and twice as high during school holidays. And with many families heading away from the cities to unpatrolled beaches, there is extra risk.
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“Our biggest reminder and request for people is if they can, over the next couple of weekends that are going to be warm, to swim at patrolled locations where they will see red and yellow flags flying,” he added.
To date, there have been no confirmed drownings this year in NSW for swimmers who have kept between the flags. If swimmers have no access to a patrolled beach, Pearce suggests bringing a floatation device in case of a rescue.
Temperatures are currently sitting between 3 and 4 degrees above average for April, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines, who also said May is shaping up to be warmer than normal.
