NWSMobile urges rip current checks

The National Weather Service’s NWSMobile account used the run-up to Memorial Day weekend to tell beachgoers to check local conditions before getting in the water. The reminder, posted on May 21, pointed readers to beach and rip current forecasts rather than treating sunny weather as a safety signal. (weather.gov) The message aligns with broader National Weather Service guidance that says rip currents can form on any beach with breaking waves and can turn life-threatening quickly. (weather.gov) The Mobile/Pensacola forecast office is also carrying a five-day rip current outlook for coastal Alabama and northwest Florida heading into the holiday weekend. ### What exactly was NWSMobile telling beachgoers to check? The NWS Mobile/Pensacola office says its beach forecast page provides rip current risk and UV information for local beaches. Its main office page on May 22 also highlighted rip currents as “the #1 Weather Related Killer Along Gulf Coast Beaches” and linked users to the beach forecast page and a five-day outlook. The National Weather Service says beachgoers should check their local surf zone and beach hazards forecasts before leaving for the beach. The agency says conditions can change quickly during the day and advises swimmers to watch for updates and local flag systems after they arrive. (x.com) ### How does the rip current forecast work? The National Weather Service says surf zone forecasts use three rip current outlook levels: low, moderate and high. A low risk does not mean no danger, the agency says, because life-threatening currents can still occur near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. (weather.gov) A moderate risk means life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone, according to the agency’s safety page. A high risk means life-threatening rip currents are likely and the surf zone is dangerous for all levels of swimmers, the Mobile/Pensacola beach page says. (weather.gov) ### Why does the agency stress this before a holiday weekend? NOAA’s National Weather Service said in a Memorial Day rip current safety notice that beachgoers should be aware of rip currents and other beach hazards and, if possible, swim only at beaches with lifeguards. That notice said seven rip current drownings had already been recorded at that point in 2024, underscoring why the agency uses holiday weekends to push forecast checks and swimmer guidance. (weather.gov) The National Weather Service also says rip currents are common and can occur anywhere there are breaking waves, including Gulf Coast beaches and the Great Lakes. (weather.gov) The agency warns that nice weather does not guarantee safe surf and says distant storms can still generate dangerous waves and currents. ### What should swimmers do if they get caught in one? The National Weather Service says people caught in a rip current should stay calm, avoid trying to swim directly against the current and try to move parallel to shore until the current weakens. If they cannot make progress, the agency says they should float, wave and yell for help. (weather.gov) The agency also says bystanders should not rush into the water without flotation. Instead, it advises calling 911 or getting a lifeguard, then throwing the victim something that floats if possible. (weather.gov) ### Where can beachgoers find the local outlook now? As of May 22, the NWS Mobile/Pensacola office page showed a five-day rip current outlook for coastal Alabama and northwest Florida and linked directly to its beach forecast page. The National Weather Service also maintains a national list of offices that issue surf zone forecasts, including Mobile, Jacksonville, Miami, Charleston, San Diego and others. (weather.gov) The next updates will appear through the local beach forecast products and advisories posted by the Mobile/Pensacola office as Memorial Day weekend continues. Beachgoers can also use the National Weather Service surf zone forecast directory to find the office covering their destination. (weather.gov 1) (weather.gov 2)