Tropical Storm Chris Triggers Hazardous Weather Outlook For LI

A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for Long Island with forecasters warning that Tropical Storm Chris may create dangerous conditions at local beaches in the coming days.

Chris was located about 210 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina as of 11 p.m. Monday. Packing winds of 70 mph, the storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Tuesday.

Chris is expected to stay well offshore as it tracks away from the coast through Thursday, but it may bring 7-foot waves to ocean beaches on Long Island and create dangerous rip currents, the National Weather Service says.

Three people have drowned in Long Island waters over the past month, including an 8-year-old boy who became caught in a rip current.

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water. Panicked swimmers often try to counter a rip current by swimming straight back to shore—putting themselves at risk of drowning because of fatigue.

If caught in a rip current, don't fight it. Swim parallel to the shore and swim back to land at an angle.

An air quality alert is also in effect from 11 a.m until 11 p.m. Tuesday for all of Long Island. Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of Ground Level Ozone.

When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.

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