Alert · Weather · U.S. Virgin Islands
Weather Alert: Rip Current Statement
USVI weather update: Rip Current Statement issued May 14 at 3:08AM AST until May 15 at 6:00AM AST by NWS San Juan PR.
Official details
What
Life-threatening rip current.
Where
Along the north and east-facing beaches in Culebra, St Thomas, St John, adjacent islands and St Croix.
When
From 6 AM AST this morning through late tonight.
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 weak long-period northeasterly swell will spread across the Atlantic waters late tonight through Thursday evening. This in combination with locally generated wind-waves will result in confused seas potentially enhancing the risk of rip currents along the north and east-facing beaches.
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.