The scheduled return of the Tenby to Saundersfoot charity TenFoot Swim tomorrow (Saturday) has been cancelled due to the adverse weather forecast.

The event was set to return this weekend after a three year absence, with organisers stating it would be back ‘bigger and better’ for 2023 with a new 5.5km long distance course, starting on Tenby’s North Beach, and now finishing on Saundersfoot’s Coppet Hall Beach, with entrants due to assemble on the beach early at 8 am, ready to enter the sea soon after.

However, the TenFoot Swim committee issued the following statement on social media today (Friday): “We would like to inform you to inform you that due to adverse weather conditions we have had to take the unfortunate decision to cancel the 2023 TenFoot Swim.

“We would like to stress the importance of the work our safety team do when we run the TenFoot swim. Not only are we responsible for the swimmers, but the many safety volunteers who support on kayaks, paddleboards and boats and with the forecast weather conditions it would not be safe for us to ask swimmers or the safety team to go out on the water.

“All entrants will be contacting by email today explaining what will happen next.

“We will still be supporting our amazing charities ‘My Name'5 Doddie’ and ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ in 2024.

“We would appreciate your patience as we won't be responding to messages/comments/emails until Tuesday next week as I'm sure you can appreciate we have a lot to sort out and we are running the SaundersFest music festival this weekend as well. Many thanks for your understanding,” they added.

The Met Office has stated that despite warm temperatures on Friday, July 7, the weather will turn thundery on Saturday, with the risk of some heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Tenby and Saundersfoot area.

“The heat will be relatively short-lived, with a thundery breakdown arriving in south-western areas on Saturday courtesy of the low pressure out to the west,” stated Met Office spokesperson Dan Harris.

“This breakdown will spread northeast through the day and could be heavy in places, with the possibility of associated hail and gusty winds.”

He continued: “Despite the warm start to the weekend weather for most, we expect a steady transition back to cooler and more unsettled weather with the development of some intense thundery downpours.

“Whilst we have high confidence in the general trends, there remains sufficient uncertainty to preclude us from being able to pin down the most likely locations of the most intense and potentially impactful thunderstorms.

“The main message at the moment is to be aware of the potential for heavy downpours with lightning, hail and gusty winds, so keep in touch with the latest forecasts. Warnings may be issued in due course, should confidence increase. However, the vast majority of places will avoid the worst conditions.”

With some potentially disruptive thunderstorms on Saturday, travel conditions could be impacted. Rod Dennis from RAC said: “Driving conditions will rapidly deteriorate wherever these thundery showers break out – one moment the road will be dry, the next drivers will be faced with heavy rain, hail and potentially gusty winds as well.

“It’s therefore crucial drivers reduce their speed accordingly, leaving a larger gap between themselves and the vehicle in front.

“It’s also important to ensure car headlights and taillights are switched on – but not fog lights as these risk dazzling other drivers.”