Previous Story
Public warned of high surf and high risk of rip currents
|
Posted on Dec 06 2021
The public is being warned of a high risk of rip currents and high surf.
A high rip current risk of rip currents advisory is now in effect until 6am Thursday. For the high surf advisory, it is in effect until 6am Wednesday.
Also, seas of 9 to 12 feet are expected along Marianas coastal waters until 6am Tuesday. A small craft advisory remains in effect until 6am Tuesday on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Based on the information received from the National Weather Service in Guam and compiled at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point, hazardous surf of 9 to 13 feet and dangerous rip currents will be present in north, east and west facing reefs of the Marianas.
This will create dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
A northwest swell will slowly decrease the next couple of days as an east-northeast swell quickly builds. Surf will fall below hazardous levels of 9 feet along west facing reefs early today, but will continue along north facing reefs the next couple of days. Surf along east facing reefs will reach hazardous levels of 12 feet and continue through Monday night before decreasing.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.
The government is reminding the public to avoid venturing out toward north and east facing reefs. Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don’t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
The combination of a northwest and building northeast swell will maintain hazardous seas conditions to small craft. The northwest swell was expected to begin to subside last night with northeast swell beginning to subside Monday night.
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, to avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. (PR)
