WHUS42 KMFL 010807
CFWMFL
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
407 AM EDT FRI MAY 1 2009
...SLIGHTLY WEAKER WINDS LEAD TO A SLIGHTLY DIMINISHED THREAT FOR
RIP CURRENTS TODAY...
FLZ168-172-173-010915-
/O.CAN.KMFL.CF.S.0019.000000T0000Z-090501T1200Z/
COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-
407 AM EDT FRI MAY 1 2009
A WEAKENING PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY WILL LEAD
TO WINDS OF ONLY 10 TO 15 MPH ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST. THIS WILL
RESULT IN ONLY A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF
MIAMI- DADE...BROWARD...AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A RIP CURRENT IS A 10 TO 30 YARD WIDE CHANNEL OF WATER THAT CAN
PULL EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER FROM NEAR OR INSIDE THE SAND BAR INTO
DEEPER WATER. DUE TO THE LIFE THREATENING DANGERS THAT THESE
STRONG CURRENTS OF WATER POSE...SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED.
IF YOU DO GO INTO THE WATERS...SWIM AT GUARDED BEACHES AND HEED
THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL. IF CAUGHT IN THE SEAWARD PULL OF
A RIP CURRENT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE DIRECTLY TOWARD SHORE.
INSTEAD...MOVE SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE RIP CURRENT UNTIL THE PULL
EASES.
AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF ESCAPE IS TO LET THE RIP CURRENT PULL YOU
SEAWARD 50 TO 100 YARDS...WHERE THE FORCE WEAKENS...AND THEN SWIM
TOWARD THE BEACH AT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT.
&&
$$
GS/RGH