Preliminary data on fatalities which occurred in the surf zones across National Weather Service areas of forecast responsibility through December 1 2024. This data is preliminary and locations of fatalities are approximate. Click on the location of a drowning for additional information. The GIS map below can also be found here. Data can be download here. A GIS Dashboard is also available which shows drownings based upon user selected parameters.
Click on Column Header in Table Below To Sort
Rip |
High |
Sneaker |
Other |
Not |
Location |
ST |
M/F |
Age |
Date |
X | Guam | GU | M | 8 | 1/24/2024 | ||||
X | Playa Montones | PR | M | 39 | 2/13/2024 | ||||
X | Escondida Beach | PR | M | 35 | 3/6/2024 | ||||
X | La Concha Beach | PR | M | 20 | 3/10/2024 | ||||
X | La Concha Beach | PR | M | 34 | 3/10/2024 | ||||
X | La Pared | PR | M | 52 | 3/13/2024 | ||||
X | Asan | GU | M | 40 | 3/14/2024 | ||||
X | Ritidian | GU | M | 28 | 3/17/2024 | ||||
X | Montones Beach | PR | M | 40 | 3/27/2024 | ||||
X | La Pared Beach | PR | M | 26 | 3/27/2024 | ||||
X | American Samoa | ASM | M | NA | 4/2/2024 | ||||
X | Dania Beach | FL | M | NA | 4/29/2024 | ||||
X | Drakes Beach | CA | M | 55 | 5/1/2024 | ||||
X | Destin | FL | M | 75 | 5/14/2024 | ||||
X | Jobos Beach | PR | M | 60 | 5/14/2024 | ||||
X | Langdon Beach | FL | M | NA | 5/15/2024 | ||||
X | Shacks Beach | PR | M | NA | 5/19/2024 | ||||
X | Galveston Beach (Pleasure Pier) | TX | M | 26 | 5/25/2024 | ||||
X | Gulf Shores | AL | M | 23 | 6/6/2024 | ||||
X | Conneaut Township Park | OH | M | 10 | 6/7/2024 | ||||
X | Stuart Beach | FL | M | 51 | 6/20/2024 | ||||
X | Stuart Beach | FL | F | 48 | 6/20/2024 | ||||
X | 1 WNW Bid-a-Wee | FL | M | 19 | 6/20/2024 | ||||
X | Jacob Riis Park | NY | M | 17 | 6/21/2024 | ||||
X | Jacob Riis Park | NY | M | 18 | 6/21/2024 | ||||
X | Panama City Beach | FL | M | 24 | 6/21/2024 | ||||
X | Panama City Beach | FL | M | 25 | 6/21/2024 | ||||
X | Panama City Beach | FL | M | 24 | 6/21/2024 | ||||
X | Galveston Beach | TX | M | 17 | 6/21/2024 | ||||
X | Panama City Beach | FL | M | 23 | 6/23/2024 | ||||
X | 2 WNW Hollywood Beach | FL | F | 60 | 6/23/2024 | ||||
X | 2 NE Evanston | IL | M | 41 | 6/30/2024 | ||||
X | Montrose Beach | IL | M | 22 | 7/1/2024 | ||||
X | Daytona Beach | FL | M | 43 | 7/3/2024 | ||||
X | Kure Beach | NC | M | 22 | 7/4/2024 | ||||
X | Coney Island Beach | NY | F | 17 | 7/5/2024 | ||||
X | Coney Island Beach | NY | F | 18 | 7/5/2024 | ||||
X | Litchfield Beach | SC | M | 17 | 7/12/2024 | ||||
X | Guilarte Beach | PR | M | 86 | 7/13/2024 | ||||
X; | Ocean Isle Beach | NC | F | teen | 7/14/2024 | ||||
X | Surf City | NC | M | 57 | 7/15/2024 | ||||
X | Lake Superior State Forest Campground (Luce County) | MI | M | 14 | 7/24/2024 | ||||
X | Beverly Shores | IN | M | 17 | 8/6/2024 | ||||
X | Chicago - 12th Street Beach | IL | M | NA | 8/7/2024 | ||||
X | Lake Superior State Forest Campground (Luce County) | MI | M | 14 | 8/8/2024 | ||||
X | Playa Jobos | PR | M | 83 | 8/11/2024 | ||||
X | Smith Point Park | NY | M | 70 | 8/11/2024 | ||||
X | Forest Beach | SC | M | 65 | 8/16/2024 | ||||
X | 2 SSW Folly Field | SC | M | 73 | 8/16/2024 | ||||
X | Surf City | NC | M | 41 | 8/17/2024 | ||||
X | Myrtle Beach | SC | M | 15 | 8/24/2024 | ||||
X | Destin (James Lee Park) | FL | M | 40 | 8/31/2024 | ||||
X | Condado Beach | PR | F | 22 | 9/8/2024 | ||||
X | Jobos Beach | PR | M | 59 | 9/25/2024 | ||||
X | Daytona Beach | FL | M | 86 | 10/3/2024 | ||||
X | Pinones Beach | PR | M | 62 | 10/12/2024 | ||||
X | Coastal St Johns | FL | M | 20 | 10/13/2024 | ||||
X | Keiki Beach | HI | M | 63 | 10/16/2024 | ||||
X | Pawleys Island | SC | F | mid 20s | 10/17/2024 | ||||
X | 1 NNE Ocean Ridge | FL | M | NA | 11/3/2024 | ||||
X | Peppers Beach Park | FL | M | 16 | 11/3/2024 | ||||
X | Boynton Beach | FL | M | 18 | 11/10/2024 | ||||
X | Cueva del Indio, Arecibo | PR | M | 40 | 11/17/2024 | ||||
59 |
2 | 2 | Total: 63 | ||||||
Key: 1: longshore current, 2: tidal current, 3: outlet current, 4: structural current, 5: shore break, 6: strong current, 7: channel current, 8: inlet current, 9: sandbar, 10: waves and dangerous currents |
Accurately tracking these types of fatalities is difficult because so many go unreported and undocumented. Due to the difficult nature of tracking surf zone fatalities; these data may not match other sources.
Occasionally, there are surf zone fatalities caused by other hazards such as unusual waves and currents. These hazards fall in the “Other” category. “Other” is not an official category defined by the NWS. Rip Currents cause a large of percentage of the surf zone fatalities in the United States. Typically, a victim of a surf zone hazard is a male between the ages of 10-29. Most of the fatalities occur during the months of June and July and in the NWS Southern Region.