Bad weather this coming weekend
- Thread starter NigR
- Start date
Lurker,
Wouldn't like to say precisely how bad it has to be but it most definitely does sump off in flood.
Local forecast for Saturday is as follows:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain during the morning, but rain becoming persistent and heavy during the afternoon and evening.
With regard to your specific query (Ankle-Grinder Bypass), I honestly do not know that part of the cave well enough to advise you one way or the other. If the forecast is correct, I would say it will probably sump off at some point but I could easily be wrong. If it does flood, the water levels will eventually fall and the sump will open up again so it really all depends how long you are intending to spend on the other side of it. Forecast for Sunday is for more showery conditions, so it could be that you wouldn't have too long to wait but there is no guarantee that will be the case. Hopefully, someone else will be able to give you better advice than I can. Have a good trip, whatever you decide.
On a more general note, the forecast is so bad that I will not even be considering going anywhere the least bit flood-liable this coming weekend. But, then again, I'm not very adventurous and do tend to err on the side of caution.
Wouldn't like to say precisely how bad it has to be but it most definitely does sump off in flood.
Local forecast for Saturday is as follows:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain during the morning, but rain becoming persistent and heavy during the afternoon and evening.
With regard to your specific query (Ankle-Grinder Bypass), I honestly do not know that part of the cave well enough to advise you one way or the other. If the forecast is correct, I would say it will probably sump off at some point but I could easily be wrong. If it does flood, the water levels will eventually fall and the sump will open up again so it really all depends how long you are intending to spend on the other side of it. Forecast for Sunday is for more showery conditions, so it could be that you wouldn't have too long to wait but there is no guarantee that will be the case. Hopefully, someone else will be able to give you better advice than I can. Have a good trip, whatever you decide.
On a more general note, the forecast is so bad that I will not even be considering going anywhere the least bit flood-liable this coming weekend. But, then again, I'm not very adventurous and do tend to err on the side of caution.
Lurker,
Rain on Saturday arrived much later than expected but was quite heavy into the late evening here in West Wales.
Not sure how wet it was over Llangattock way but I was surprised how low the water levels were in the Clydach gorge yesterday (Sunday).
So, in retrospect, I think you may well have been OK doing your originally planned trip, particularly if you had got an early start.
However, given the bad forecast and the advice given I think you made the right decision.
Hope you enjoyed the through trip!
Rain on Saturday arrived much later than expected but was quite heavy into the late evening here in West Wales.
Not sure how wet it was over Llangattock way but I was surprised how low the water levels were in the Clydach gorge yesterday (Sunday).
So, in retrospect, I think you may well have been OK doing your originally planned trip, particularly if you had got an early start.
However, given the bad forecast and the advice given I think you made the right decision.
Hope you enjoyed the through trip!
M
McBad
Guest
Saturday was pissing wet all along the heads of the valleys road until I got to Brynmawr; by the time I got down into the Clydach gorge weather was hot and sunny. I think there was one gentle shower but the Abergavenny side remained basically dry through the day (whilst Newport and Cardiff got a good soaking). This was considerably different (better) than the BBC weather forecast. Over the last few weeks the BBC forecast seems to have consistently predicted worse weather than actually happens. Why can't they just be accurate?! 
M
M
M
McBad
Guest
Have just come back from Ystradfellte area.
Heavy rain over the last few days and last night means the Hepste is flowing brown and high (about 1' under the bridge) and there is a 6' deep torrent of brown water charging down the river bed into Porth yr Ogof. At the bottom of the path at Porth yr Ogof, where you cross the style to walk along the ledges to the entrance, it is not possible to get round the corner onto the ledges, too much water. (Couldn't see if ledges were under water, tree in the way, but good chance they were.)
Just for info,
M.
Heavy rain over the last few days and last night means the Hepste is flowing brown and high (about 1' under the bridge) and there is a 6' deep torrent of brown water charging down the river bed into Porth yr Ogof. At the bottom of the path at Porth yr Ogof, where you cross the style to walk along the ledges to the entrance, it is not possible to get round the corner onto the ledges, too much water. (Couldn't see if ledges were under water, tree in the way, but good chance they were.)
Just for info,
M.
M
McBad
Guest
McBad said:
Was back there this afternoon to take some photos. Less than a foot of water in the Hepste and water levels at PyO had dropped 18" by 5.00pm. Quite possible to get onto the ledges down towards the entrance. Suspect Hepste will be dry in a few hours and river down to summer levels at PyO, assuming there is no further heavy rain. Mellte indeed.
M.
