Florida's Entire Atlantic Coastline Warned of 'Dangerous' Ocean Conditions

Newsweek

29-04-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warn of "dangerous" ocean conditions in a rip current statement released for Florida's entire Atlantic coastline from north of Jacksonville to south of Homestead.
Why It Matters
Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that can quickly pull swimmers away from the shore. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these currents can exceed speeds of 5 mph, faster than even Olympic swimmers.
They are among the deadliest natural hazards at beaches across the United States, causing more deaths annually than hurricanes or tornadoes, according to NWS data.
A stock photo shows a rip current flag in place at a beach.
A stock photo shows a rip current flag in place at a beach.
littlestocker/Getty
What To Know
Several drownings have already occurred this season because of rip currents, including a 17-year-old boy who died on April 14 after being swept away in a rip current at Lake Worth Beach in Palm Beach County.
The rip current statement will expire late Tuesday night in most Florida locations, according to the NWS, but the currents will pose a threat to coastal Palm Beach County, coastal Broward County and coastal Miami Dade County in Southern Florida through Thursday night.
"Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," the statement said.
Meteorologists urged beachgoers to pay attention to any warning flags in place at the beach and to always swim near a lifeguard. The NWS office in Miami warned that rip currents can become life-threatening, especially when they catch a swimmer off guard.
"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 jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and signs," the NWS office in Melbourne said.
"Entering the surf is strongly discouraged. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."
As of Tuesday afternoon, there are no other active NWS weather alerts or warnings in place in Florida.
What People Are Saying
NWS senior meteorologist Chuck Caracozza, who works at the Miami office, told Newsweek: "We have a breezy onshore easterly wind flow, and whenever we have that, that will kick up the rip currents. The stronger the wind the higher the potential for rip currents."
NOAA scientist Gregory Dusek, who developed a forecast model for rip currents that was released last year: "Rip currents account for an estimated 100 deaths in the United States each year. Before this, forecasters were manually predicting rip currents on a large section of the ocean twice a day and only a day or two into the future. The earlier prediction has potential to substantially increase awareness and reduce drownings."
What Happens Next
Rip currents aren't unusual this time of year, and swimmers are urged to heed local forecasts before venturing into the water.