Spring Breakers, all swimmers: a rip current warning from Miami to Palm Beach beaches
Sunday morning, a high rip current risk warning went into effect for waters off South Florida beaches in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The National Weather Service posted the warning at 9:04 a.m. Sunday. It covers the ocean waters touching Homestead Bayfront Park to Juno Beach, a range that includes Miami Beach, Haulover Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton.
This is the third rip current statement issued by the NWS in the last two weeks.
Even the best swimmers can be snagged and drowned by rip currents. So, we’ll repeat the guidelines for dealing with rip currents:
▪ Swim near a lifeguard. And those red flags telling you where not to swim are not just a suggestion — they’re a warning for you to avoid the area.
▪ If you are caught in a rip current, do not try to swim against it. If you can, try to swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the rip current.
▪ You might not be able to swim out of the rip current. If that’s the case, relax, float and tread water. Again, “relax” — this is no time to panic.
▪ If you can’t get out of the current, again, do not panic. Try to face the shore, then yell and wave for help.
This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 10:27 AM.
