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MEMA Home > Programs> Communication> News > National Weather Service Advising Caution in High Surf Conditions

National Weather Service Advising Caution in High Surf Conditions

 

August 23, 2009

 

National Weather Service Forecast Offices in Maine have posted High Surf Advisories for Sunday, August 23rd, as large swells from Hurricane Bill affect the Maine coast. The Advisories will be in place through 7:00 pm from York County along the coast to Waldo County, and through 4:00 am Monday morning in Hancock and Washington Counties.

Large breakers will pose a danger for those who venture too close to the water on rocks or sea walls. In addition, the high surf will result in hazardous conditions for swimmers. Life-threatening rip currents are expected to impact beaches, especially along the southwest coast and neighboring New Hampshire beaches.

A rip current, sometimes mistakenly called an undertow, is a strong but narrow current of water flowing from the beach to the surf zone. It can rapidly carry a swimmer into deeper water and exhaust an individual trying to swim against it. A swimmer caught in a rip current should swim parallel to the beach until out of the current's pull.

National Weather Service/Maine Prepares Rip Current Safety

Latest NWS messages on this event:

 

Contact:

National Weather Service Forecast Offices
Gray: 207-688-3216 / Caribou: 207-492-0170

 

Last update: 07/20/10