NWS: Warm temperatures, unguarded beaches recipe for heightened surf zone danger
South Seaside Park in August 2015. (Photo: Justin Auciello/for NewsWorks)
Warmer than normal temperatures over the holiday weekend will likely be sending more people to beaches that might not have lifeguards.
That’s a concern for the National Weather Service, which calls the combination a recipe for heightened surf zone danger.
Mitchell Gaines of the local National Weather Service office in Mount Holly says the rip current forecast through the weekend will be in the low to moderate risk category.
There’s a low risk of rip current formation today in Ocean County through Cape May County, while the risk level raises to moderate in Monmouth County.
But low risk doesn’t imply no risk, Gaines emphasized.
“Swim in front of a lifeguard. Low risk is no risk. Always be supervised. Be mindful of what a rip current is,” he said.
[RELATED: How to spot, avoid, escape rip currents]
A swimming deterrent might be the cool ocean temperatures, which are generally in the middle to upper 50s.
A moderate rip current risk is more likely Sunday into Monday, when a developing onshore flow could create rougher waters, Gaines said.
If you’re heading to the beach, check the NWS Surf Zone forecast here. It’s updated daily.
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