WINTER VIOLENCE AT OLD COLWYN 8th FEBRUARY 2004

On Sunday 8th February 2004, nature put on an oceanic display the likes of which I haven't seen for many a year. I managed to take some pictures despite the camera lens being constantly covered with a layer of salt and my twice taking an intense soaking. There were crowds of people watching the display some of whom did not seem to have the sense with which they were born. Eventually the whole promenade between Old Colwyn and Rhos was closed due to the intense volumes of water and the large pieces of stone being hurled around like confetti. These images give some idea of the awesome nature of the sea and you may wish to consider the lampposts and the railway embankment in order to put the height of the water into perspective. Spectacular!

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The wind was coming from the North West at an estimated force 7. All the shots were taken from behind(!) a shelter on the Old Colwyn promenade looking East - it was impossible to face any other direction due to the ferocity of the wind and the constant deluge of water and spray. The building on the cliff top (Penmaenhead) is the, now derelict, Colwyn Bay Hotel. The railway embankment runs, left to right, across the centre of this picture and the white arrow points to the up signal protecting Penmaenhead tunnel. Believe it or not, the jets skiers were out in this storm and one can only guess at the risks to be taken by the emergency services should anything have gone wrong!

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