Pakefield Coastwatch

12/06/2026

Morning all.

A drier day. Cloud and sun in equal measure, feeling warmer.

16c rising to 24c

Some cloud about 30% chance of a shower early afternoon.

Light westerly winds today.

High tide is at 07:55. 2.27 metres.

Once again water quality issues at Gorleston, I’m hearing local businesses are concerned this will affect holiday trade.

Another day another offshore wind, always an issue for the unwary. Whatever activity you are doing our advice don’t go alone and take all the usual precautions.

Today’s lighthouse is the Godrevy Lighthouse, situated on Godrevy Island in St Ives Bay, Cornwall. The structure was built between 1858 and 1859 to warn ships of a dangerous reef known as "the Stones".

Lots of seal sightings on east coast beaches. It’s the common seal pupping season. Please give them space.

Looks to be a warm weekend for first light festival. Still a week away but it’s firming up for 23/25c along the coast. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 it doesn’t change

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

11/06/2026

Jellyfish are arriving a little earlier this year.
Although they don’t have a brain, I guess after 500 million years, they know what they’re doing.

🪼We are starting to see some jellyfish washed up on our shoreline and may encounter some in the sea. The Marine Conservation Society has a very comprehensive guide to jellyfish we may encounter in the UK, and we can do no better than share it here.
Photo credit The Monteray Bay Aquarium California

How to identify types of jellyfish in the UK | Marine Conservation Society https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/volunteering/wildlife-sightings/how-to-identify-jellyfish/

11/06/2026

Let’s hope it’s like this for the first light festival. We will be in Kensington Gardens if y’all fancy a chat.

You will need waterproofs this afternoon ☔️

11/06/2026

Morning all.

I might as well just copy and paste yesterdays weather. Bright start, clouding over
for lunchtime, rain showers, sometimes heavy this afternoon.

11c rising to 18c

Cloud and showers arrive from the west by midday. Some heavy bursts this afternoon.

Wind from the SW picking up all day. Gusting to 30+ mph by T time.

High tide is at 07:10. 2.20 metres.

Once again there are water safety issues at Gorleston. I would suggest Gt Yarmouth or Lowestoft would be a better option for swimming.

We've been hearing a lot of recent reports of sightings of beautiful little things, that look a bit like sweeties, which are actually called Sea Gooseberries. Perfectly harmless and can be handled with care to avoid damage to their delicate makeup.

They have most likely ended up on the beaches due to recent tides and winds. They tend to be in high abundance at this time of year in any case due to the increased amount of plankton (their main food source) in surface water in the spring and summer, when the days get longer and the sun is higher in the sky. There’s been a lot of sunshine in recent weeks which has probably increased this even more.

Still looking at a warm and sunny weekend. Tomorrow looks to be warmer, more humid and a tad wet.

Today’s lighthouse is The Heugh Lighthouse located on the headland, just to the east of the town of Hartlepool.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

10/06/2026

Morning all.

Another bright and sunny start but we know the drill now. Showers around midday, occasionally heavy after lunch. Continues through to late evening.

11c rising 18c so about the same as yesterday.

Cloud builds from the west. Rain sometimes prolonged this afternoon.

Wind from the west but no more than a light breeze.

High tide is at 17:35. 2.28 metres.

Friday getting warmer but looks to be rather damp but a promising weekend in store temperatures up to 25c and plenty of sunshine.

Be aware ongoing water quality issues at Gorleston. Sadly this is becoming the norm and frankly it shouldn’t happen at all.

Some great shots from JW Shipping Photography. The scale of Felixstowe is easy to see.

Lovely to see so many people on the Waveney recently, swimming, paddle boarding, canoeing please don’t put yourself or other river users at risk. Inconsiderate boating is major cause of avoidable accidents. There are no lifeguards, the river is tidal to Ellingham mill, with strong currents.

Todays lighthouse is the Phare du Petit Minou (Petit Minou Lighthouse), located in Plouzané, Brittany, France

Brittany’s coast features the world's highest concentration of lighthouses, famously categorized by traditional sailors into "Hell" (at sea), "Purgatory" (on islands), and "Paradise" (on land). Explore these historic maritime sentinels using the Brittany Tourism Lighthouse Route

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

09/06/2026

Let’s hope not.
It makes sense, hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

The lifeboat station is under threat as the dunes disappear 😟

09/06/2026

Always a great breakfast, well worth a visit.

09/06/2026

Full set of pics from this morning, cloud now just starting to build up.

Take an umbrella for this afternoon just in case ☔️

09/06/2026

Morning all.

A bright and sunny start with cloudless skys.
Not all day tho, showers for midday with the occasional heavy one, further showers this afternoon but with some bright spells.

11c rising to 20c so a tad warmer than yesterday.

A rash of showers from the west later today, with the odd heavy burst after lunch.

Wind from the WSW picking up to 30mph, inexperienced water sports enthusiasts can be quickly blown out to sea by an offshore wind.
Please don’t put yourself at risk.

High tide is at 16:25. 2.27 metres.

Continued support for a warmer spell at the weekend 25c but it might be short lived.

Lots of reports coming in about Palm oil on Beaches from Overstrand to Happisburgh.

Dog walkers have been warned to stay alert on the north Norfolk coast as a dangerous substance washes up.

Toll Barn Veterinary Centre, based in North Walsham, has issued an alert about reports of palm oil on the beach at Mundesley.

While palm oil is not inherently toxic in small amounts and is sometimes included in pet foods, the larger quantities found on beaches can be highly dangerous and may be contaminated with toxins from the sea.

Key Facts for Dog OwnersToxicity:
While harmless to humans, palm oil is highly toxic to dogs. It is often contaminated with bacteria and other sea pollutants.
Dangerous Symptoms:
The high fat content and contaminants can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, and potentially fatal blockages (pancreatitis)

Legal Dumping:
Ships are legally permitted to discharge limited amounts of palm oil at least 12 miles out to sea when cleaning their tanks.
The Wash-Up:
The oil congeals into solid waxy lumps in cold water, it mixes with marine contaminants, and washes ashore during high tides and storms usually after a spell of Easterly winds up onto the high tide line.

Today’s lighthouse is St Catherine's Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

08/06/2026

Morning all.

A cloudy start with isolated light showers.
More persistent later. Temperatures take a dip.

14c rising to 18c.

Light rain in places already, more showers throughout the day. Occasionally heavy.

Wind from SSW, easing to a westerly this afternoon.

High tide is at. 15:35. 2.28 metres.

Took the opportunity for a stroll along the top of Pakefield cliffs. It’s looking pretty good. Minimal erosion caused by the weather not the sea. Plenty of fresh vegetation. Good for holding the sloping surface together, great for wildlife.
Hundreds of insects and Sandmartins a sign of a working eco system. Rabbits, rats, mice are being predated by Kestrels and owls all good signs for a stable summer season.

It’s not nailed on a heatwave is on the cards from next weekend but it does look like it will at least be warmer. It’s still very dry in the garden more rain is needed.

As we approach the summer season there will be the usual fireworks at weekends and usually Wednesdays on the beaches.
Flares are not fireworks, it’s sometimes difficult to recognise the difference.

Today’s lighthouse is the Phare de Gatteville, a historic lighthouse built in 1834 from granite, located near Gatteville-le-Phare in Normandy, France.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.