Lifeguards on Ōhope Beach are expecting a busy summer as climate patterns enter the El Niño phase.

Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club’s paid patrol lifeguards started on Monday and have already seen a good number of people on the beach around the club and West End.

Paid patrols begin at the Ōhope Top10 Holiday Park this weekend.

A head guard, Ashley Giles, said there would be five weeks of paid patrols outside the club.

“We patrol every day over the holiday period, from 10am until 6pm on weekdays,” he said.

Volunteer lifeguards will be on duty at the weekends at both locations.

Giles said 12 to 15 paid lifeguards were rostered on for the summer season and they would be doing their best to keep beachgoers safe.

His advice this summer is simple: “Parents, watch your kids. Don’t swim alone, swim between the flags and be sun smart.”