Surfers by rip currents – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Exotico y Barato Photos
South Florida is predicted to experience dangerous rip currents as a result of Erin’s powerful winds.
As part of Hurricane Erin’s effects, beachgoers in South Florida are being alerted about the possibility of potentially fatal rip currents along the shoreline beginning early this week.
The beaches in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Jupiter are probably going to be impacted by the moderate risk of rip currents that are currently forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
Low tide and strong winds predicted due to Hurricane Erin, which is likely to affect Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are the cause of the rip currents.
“If you’re heading to the beach, follow the local lifeguards’ instructions,” National Weather Service meteorologist Chuck Caracozza advised. “Avoid entering the water if there are rip currents.”
On Friday, the National Weather Service warned swimmers of how to avoid them.
Narrow waterways known as rip currents are more likely to develop during periods of low tide, large waves, and high winds. People may be drawn farther into the water by these currents as they move away from the shore, making it challenging to swim past them.
Here are some safety pointers:
You should remain composed and refrain from trying to swim against the rip current to return to shore if you find yourself dragged into one. Given how swiftly the water moves, this will probably be ineffective and exhausting.
It is recommended to swim parallel to the shore and then at an angle back to shore in order to escape the current.
According to Caracozza, the hurricane’s outcome could affect the rip current risk level.
The first storm of the 2025 season, storm Erin, formed on Friday northeast of the Caribbean Sea. According to Caracozza, hurricanes frequently create rip currents in the South Florida area, even when they are not predicted to reach land.
Even though we are hundreds and hundreds of miles away from the center, he continued, “larger hurricanes out there in the Atlantic have the ability to create high waves.”
Although the duration of the rip currents is unpredictable, some have persisted for days before breaking up in past seasons.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
