National Weather Service Offices
Issuing Surf Zone Forecasts
Atlantic
Boston, MA
Miami, FL
Melbourne,
FL
Jacksonville,
FL
Charleston,
SC
Wilmington,
NC
Morehead
City/Newport, NC
Upton,
(NYC) NY
Wakefield
(Norfolk), VA
Philadelphia/New Jersey
Great Lakes
Duluth, MN
Chicago, IL
Northern Indiana, IN
Gaylord, MI (starting July 1, 2010)
Grand Rapids, MI
Marquette, MI
|
Gulf Coast
Tallahassee,
FL
Tampa,
FL
Mobile,
AL
Brownsville, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Pacific Coast
Los
Angeles, CA
San
Diego, CA
Honolulu,
HI
Guam
Alaska
Barrow
|
|
Not all coastal and Great Lakes
NWS Forecast Offices provide a Surf Zone Forecast; however, all NWS offices forecasting
moderate or high risk of rip currents include this information in the Day 1 portion
of their Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO).
Rip Current Outlooks
Test of Operational Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) for Rip Currents in Coastal Hazard Message (CFW) in Select Weather Forecast Offices (WFOS): Effective May 12, 2010
Please comment on new Rip Current Statements now available at select Weather Forecast Offices
Surf Zone Forecasts will contain Rip Current Outlooks. Rip Current
Outlooks use the following, three-tiered set of qualifiers:
-
Low Risk of
rip currents. Wind and/or wave conditions are not expected to support the development
of rip currents; however, rip currents can sometimes occur, especially in the
vicinity of groins, jetties, and piers. Know how to swim and heed the advice
of lifeguards.
-
Moderate Risk of
rip currents. Wind and/or wave conditions support stronger or more frequent
rip currents. Only experienced surf swimmers should enter the water.
-
High
Risk of rip currents. Wind and/or wave conditions support dangerous
rip currents. Rip currents are life-threatening to anyone entering the
surf.
When
you arrive at the beach, speak with on-duty lifeguards about rip currents and
all other water conditions expected for the day.
Home,
Awareness Week Resources,
Overview,
Forecasts/Outlooks,
Safety Tips,
Signs/Brochures,
Photos,
Real Life Rip Current Stories,
Questions/Answers,
Success Stories,
Links,
Glossary,
Contact Us
Last Updated:
June 8, 2011
|
|