... Beach hazards statement remains in effect until 8 PM EDT this
evening...
* hazards... high rip current risk and dangerous shore break.
* Location... a high rip current risk along all eastern North
Carolina beaches. Dangerous shore break mainly from Cape
Hatteras to Cape Lookout.
* Timing and tides... the most likely time for life threatening rip
currents will be a couple of hours either side of low tide. The
most likely time for dangerous shore break will be a couple hours
either side of high tide. High tide will occur around 12:30 this
afternoon and low tide will occur around 6:30 this evening.
* Potential impacts... dangerous rip currents combined with rough
surf as high as 4 to 6 feet producing dangerous shore break.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore... which occur most often at low spots or breaks in The
Sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins...
jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards and the beach
patrol. Pay attention to flags and posted signs posted near beach
access points and lifeguard stations.
If you become caught in a rip current... do not panic. Remain calm
and begin to swim parallel to shore. Once you are away from the
force of the rip current... begin to swim back to the beach. Do
not attempt to swim directly against a rip current... since it can
exhaust and even kill the strongest swimmer.
Shore break occurs when waves break directly on the beach. The
most common injuries with strong shore break are neck and back
injuries... which most often occur when the powerful surf throws a
swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom. It is extremely
important to protect your head and neck whenever you are in
breaking waves by keeping your hands in front of you at all
times.
Please visit the following website to share your thoughts on the
new beach hazards statement...
Http://www.Weather.Gov/survey/NWS-survey.Php?Code=chmbhs
