You got through Rainmageddon. Dangerous rip currents are waiting for you now.
Now that Rainmageddon came to South Florida and the skies have cleared, thoughts may turn to taking a dip in South Beach or Hollywood Beach.
Think again, warns the National Weather Service in Miami.
Just when you thought the “hazardous weather” alert could go away for a couple days, forecasters are warning of persistent rip currents along Gulf Coast beaches through Christmas Day. And beyond.
These potentially dangerous water conditions won’t be getting any better as we head toward the last weekend of the decade, either.
Blame it on easterly winds combining with northerly swells that will increase in the Atlantic waters on Christmas Day. The formula means rip currents will last through at least the end of the week, the National Weather Service said.
Otherwise, temperatures will be in the upper 70s as a high to low 70s in the evenings through Monday — the day before New Year’s Eve.
Rain chances in South Florida are 20% with your best chance of needing an umbrella being Thursday around 1 a.m. when the chance is a negligible 30%.
What you should do if you get caught in a rip current
▪ Stay calm if a rip current pulls at you in the water.
▪ Float.
▪ Call for a lifeguard’s help.
▪ Swim parallel to the shore.
This story was originally published December 24, 2019 at 1:13 PM.
