Headline:
Rip Current Statement issued January 3 at 8:02PM AST until January 6 at 6:00PM AST by NWS San Juan PR
Event:
Rip Current Statement
Urgency:
Expected
Effective:
January 3, 2025 - 4:02pm
Expires:
January 4, 2025 - 1:00am
Description:
* WHAT...Life-threatening rip currents due to breaking waves
increasing up to 6 feet and occasionally higher.
* WHERE...Beaches of Rincon, Aguada, St. Thomas, and St. John.
* WHEN...From Saturday morning through Monday afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Rip currents that can sweep even the best swimmers
away from shore into deeper water where it becomes difficult
to return to safety.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A long-period northeasterly swell will
continue to spread across the local waters through the weekend.
This swell will increase the risk of life-threatening rip
currents with rough surf conditions along the northern exposed
beaches of the islands. In addition, a larger long-period
northwesterly swell will arrive on Sunday and linger through
early next week, causing large breaking waves that will lead to
High Surf Advisory conditions, minor beach erosion, and life-
threatening rip currents, particularly along the Atlantic
coastline of Puerto Rico from Rincon to Fajardo, and Culebra.
Across the U.S. Virgin Islands, life-threatening rip currents
will prevail across all northern exposed beaches due to the long
period swells.
Instruction:
There is a high risk of rip currents.
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, beach patrol flags and
signs.
If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.
Area Description:
Mayaguez and Vicinity; St.Thomas...St. John.. and Adjacent Islands
Forcast Office:
NWS San Juan PR