New NOAA Beach Forecast Map Includes Rip Current Info

Many people enjoy spending time on a beach, soaking up the sun.

However, great weather doesn’t always mean that it’s safe to swim or even play in the shallows, the National Weather Service’s Rip Current Safety website said.

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As evidenced by the recent death of a 24-year-old Sound Shore woman, one shouldn’t assume the water is safe just by looking at it.

Kristi Pisano of Port Chester and her boyfriend were in New Jersey for a wedding last week and decided to go for a swim on a beach that didn't have a lifeguard. A wave knocked them over and they were pulled into the rip current.

Her boyfriend managed to get them both back to shore, where CPR was attempted on Pisano. She was taken to a hospital but died the next day.

The National Weather Service, which has beach forecast pages that are constantly updated and contain lifesaving information on how to break free from a rip current.

There is also a slideshow presentation title “Breaking the Grip of the Rip!”

The NWS has now developed an Experimental Beach Forecast Webpage that has information on beach conditions, including the risk of rip currents.

When visiting the page, beach areas are indicated with umbrellas. By clicking on one, it will zoom into the location showing individual beaches, also highlighted with beach umbrellas.

Once you’ve chosen the beach you will be going to, the service calls up a forecast of weather conditions for that particular location, including highlighted and color-coded rip current risk, UV index and water temperature.

The weather service is seeking comments on the page from the public. Go here to add your thoughts.

Photo credit: National Weather Service.