South Florida beachgoers are being warned of life-threatening rip currents which can be anticipated alongside the shoreline early subsequent week, as a part of the impacts from Hurricane Erin.
There’s at the moment a average danger stage for rip currents set for Monday and Tuesday, and seashores seemingly affected would come with these in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Seaside and Jupiter.
The rip currents are a results of low tide and robust winds that have been forecast due to Hurricane Erin, which is anticipated to impression Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Should you’re going to the seaside, heed the recommendation of native lifeguards,” mentioned Chuck Caracozza, a meteorologist with the Nationwide Climate Service. “And if there are rip currents, attempt to keep away from going within the water.”
The Nationwide Climate Service on Friday reminded swimmers of the way to flee them.
Rip currents are slim water channels which can be extra prone to kind throughout occasions of low tide, larger waves and robust winds. Such currents transfer away from the shore and may pull folks farther into the water, making it troublesome to swim previous them.
Some security suggestions:
— Should you’re pulled right into a rip present, it’s best to keep calm and keep away from trying to swim again to shore in opposition to the rip present. Doing so will seemingly be unsuccessful and tiring as a result of the water strikes extraordinarily shortly.
— To get out of the present, it’s finest to swim parallel to the shore, then at an angle again to shore.
“What if I am caught in a rip present?”
Keep calm and loosen up. Float to preserve power. Rip currents do not pull you below. Do not swim in opposition to the present. You could possibly escape by swimming out of the present in a path following the shoreline, or towards breaking waves, then… pic.twitter.com/CxMp5P2sq7— Nationwide Climate Service (@NWS) August 14, 2025
Caracozza mentioned the extent of danger for rip currents may change, relying on what occurs with the hurricane.
Hurricane Erin shaped northeast of the Caribbean Sea on Friday, turning into the primary hurricane of the 2025 season. Caracozza mentioned rip currents generally kind due to storms, even after they aren’t anticipated to make landfall within the South Florida area.
“Particularly with bigger hurricanes on the market within the Atlantic,” he mentioned, “they’ve the power to create excessive waves, even when we’re lots of and lots of of miles away from the middle.”
It’s troublesome to foretell how lengthy the rip currents will final, however some throughout earlier seasons have lasted for days earlier than dissipating.
