National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warn of “dangerous” ocean conditions in a rip current statement released for Florida’s entire Atlantic coastline from north of Jacksonville to south of Homestead.
Why It Matters
Rip currents are powerful , narrow channels of fast-moving water that can quickly pull swimmers away from the shore. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these currents can exceed speeds of 5 mph, faster than even Olympic swimmers.
They are among the deadliest natural hazards at beaches across the United States, causing more deaths annually than hurricanes or tornadoes, according to NWS data.
What To Know
Several drownings have already occurred this season because of rip currents, including a 17-year-old boy who died on April 14 after being swept away in a rip current at Lake Worth Beach in Palm Beach County.
The rip current statement will expire late Tuesday night in most Florida locations, according to the NWS, but the currents will pose a threat to coastal Palm Beach County, coastal Broward County and coastal Miami Dade County in Southern Florida through Thursday night…