Rip currents a worry at Ocean City
The National Weather Service forecast office in Wakefield, Va. has issued a Coastal Flood Statement for the beaches from Maryland south to North Carolina (green in the map) that 
includes a warning of rip currents this afternoon. If you're on the sand, or headed there, it's worth a read:
MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
LOW PRESSURE WELL OFF THE NORTHEAST COAST WILL SLOWLY WEAKEN
THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...THE COMBINATION OF HIGH ASTRONOMICAL
TIDES...AND LINGERING LONG PERIOD SWELL WILL LEAD TO A MODERATE
THREAT FOR RIP CURRENTS TODAY FOR THE BEACHES FROM OCEAN CITY
MARYLAND...TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NORTH CAROLINA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A MODERATE RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS MEANS WIND AND OR WAVE CONDITIONS SUPPORT STRONGER OR
MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS...ESPECIALLY IN THE VICINITY OF
JETTIES...PIERS AND SANDBARS. ONLY EXPERIENCED SURF SWIMMERS
SHOULD ENTER THE WATER
Comments
So I guess if you go across the state line to Fenwick Island, DE to swim, you don't have to worry about rip currents?
I know I'm being simplistic and you don't always know when a rip will occur, but it's a little tricky to say that OC MD is in a risk category and the DE beaches aren't, isn't it? It might make more sense to end the risk warning south of OCMD or include up to Rehoboth Beach DE.
FR: These decisions are made by regional forecast offices, for their jurisdictions only. Maryland's beaches fall under the Wakefield, Va. office; Delaware belongs to the Mt. Holly, NJ office. It's not unusual for a watch or warning to go up along the PA line (State College office), with nothing of the kind below in Maryland (Sterling). But you're right; common sense would suggest parents watch their kiddies on the Delaware sands, too.
Posted by: Jeff | June 25, 2009 1:37 PM