000
WHUS42 KMFL 041113
CFWMFL

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
613 AM EST SAT FEB 4 2012

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EAST COAST BEACHES...

FLZ168-172-173-041800-
/O.NEW.KMFL.RP.S.0002.120204T1113Z-120204T1800Z/
COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-
613 AM EST SAT FEB 4 2012

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY...

 * TIMING: MODERATE EASTERLY WINDS COMBINED WITH 2 TO 4 FOOT SURF
   WILL LEAD TO A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC
   COAST BEACHES OF MIAMI DADE, BROWARD, AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES
   TODAY.

 * IMPACTS: DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL REMAIN AN ONGOING THREAT
   ALONG THE ATLANTIC BEACHES THROUGH THE DAY TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN
CALM AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM
THE FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A
STRONG SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM