Rip Current Statement for Palm Beach County, Florida

COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-328 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2014

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

* TIMING...THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...MIAMI BEACH PATROL REPORTED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM RIP CURRENTS. HAZARDOUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE EAST COAST BEACHES OF SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... ESPECIALLY AROUND PIERS OR JETTIES WHERE CURRENTS CAN BE STRONGER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.