Rough weather led to swimmers being warned off Castlecliff Beach yesterday.
Wanganui Surf Lifeguards spokesman Phil Gilmore said most people had heeded warnings from lifeguards that the bad weather meant the water was too dangerous.
"But once in a while you'll get the ones that will come through and they decide they are braver than anyone else," he said.
"They learn the lesson real fast."
MetService had issued a severe weather warning for Wanganui, as well as Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki, Taihape and Hawke's Bay.