Alert · Weather · U.S. Virgin Islands
Weather Alert: Rip Current Statement
Official details
What
High Rip Current Risk, life-threatening rip currents.
Where
Beaches along the northwest to northeast beaches of Puerto Rico, Culebra, St. Thomas, and St. John.
When
From Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon.
Impacts
Rip currents 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 north to northwest swell will spread across the Atlantic waters on Thursday. This will increase the breaking wave heights and rip current risk along the north facing beaches of Puerto Rico, Culebra, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Safety instructions
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.