Rip Currents Caused By Danielle Create A Ton Of Trouble Along East Coast

With the splendid weather to go to the beach, many residents along the East Coast of the United States headed to the shore to seek relief from this latest bout of 90 degree weather. However, a storm about one thousand miles away was still managing to make an impact for coastal residents and visitors alike. For much of this weekend, large period swells generated by the churning, spinning, and upwelling by Hurricane Danielle in the Central Atlantic, created a bit of rough surf, and strong rip currents.

Danielle, which had become the strongest hurricane to date in the Atlantic with Category Four strength winds of 135 miles per hour, recurved out to sea well east of Bermuda over the past 48 hours, but it has managed to still cause a stir. The storm, which has since weakened over the cooler waters of the Atlantic to have winds of 80 miles per hour, has spawn significant wave action that has caused mayhem along the East Coast from Florida to Long Island, where advisories had been issued. In addition, the strong high pressure responsible for the start of the latest heat wave is also providing an onshore flow.

The problem with the rip currents has been most significant in Maryland and Virginia where a total of 300 rescues had been done on Saturday along. In addition, there was one fatality in Florida when a person in Brevard County succumbed to the treacherous rip currents. If you intend to go to the coast over the next few days, please try to stay out of the water, and if you do happen to go in to the water, be careful. The National Weather Service and NOAA have put together a web site devoted to information on rip currents. Follow these tips:

  • Break the Grip of the Rip!
  • Don’t fight the current.
  • Swim out of the current, then to shore.
  • If you can’t escape, float, or tread water.
  • If you need help, call or wave for assistance.
  • Know how to swim.
  • Never swim alone.
  • If in doubt, don’t go out.

With the presence of Hurricane Earl in the Western Atlantic near the Northern Leeward Islands, and strong high pressure over the Eastern United States, conditions for rough, heavy surf and rip currents are expected to continue for the rest of the week.