High Surf Advisory
Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
334 PM EDT Wed Sep 18 2019
…HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT…
…HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM EDT FRIDAY…
The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a High Surf Advisory, which is in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM
EDT Friday.
* LOCATIONS…In Massachusetts, Barnstable MA, Dukes MA and Nantucket MA. In Rhode Island, Block Island RI.
* TIMING…For the High Surf Advisory, from midnight tonight to 6 PM EDT Friday. For the High Rip Current Risk, until midnight EDT tonight.
* SURF ZONE IMPACTS…9 to 12 foot breaking waves and very strong rip currents will be dangerous to anyone who enters the surf.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
There is a high risk of rip currents.
A rip current, sometimes mistakenly called an undertow, is a strong but narrow current of water flowing from the beach to the surf zone. It can rapidly carry a swimmer into deeper water, and exhaust an individual trying to swim against it.
If you are a poor swimmer and are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the beach until out of its pull, then swim back to shore. Another means of escape for good swimmers is to ride the current out until it dissipates, then swim back to shore outside of the rip current.
Do not attempt to swim directly into the rip current, it can exhaust and drown even the strongest swimmer.
Heed the advice of the beach patrol and swim only at guarded beaches. Be especially cautious near piers and jetties, where rip currents can be enhanced.
In addition, viewers of large surf should stay in safe areas well away from possible splashover. Individual waves may be more than twice the average wave height, which can sweep a person into the water from what may seem to be a safe viewing area. Falling into turbulent and sometimes rocky waters can result in injury that reduces the chance of survival.
