VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – If you’re planning to hit the beach in Volusia County the next couple of days, prepare yourself for some tough waves and strong wind gusts.
Rip currents are channels of fast-moving water that can pull swimmers away from the shore and a high rip current risk is in effect for Wednesday, Thursday, and possibly the weekend due to a storm in the Atlantic.
[TRENDING: Lyman High School students claim victory in battle over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ yearbook photos | Report: Passenger lands plane at Florida airport after pilot becomes ‘incoherent’ | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
“We are seeing some extremely high dangerous surf. So, we are flying the red flag. We are recommending everyone stays in close to shore,” Chief Andrew Ethridge with Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue said.
When you first arrive at the beach, take a moment to check on which colored flag is waving. These hazard flags can usually be found around the beach entrance or lifeguard stations. They come in an array of colors, each having a specific message.
Lifeguards flew the red flag Wednesday morning in Daytona Beach after the National Weather Service said choppy surf and life-threatening rip currents are expected for the coast and adjacent Atlantic.
The system off of our coast is really cranking up the waves in the Atlantic! pic.twitter.com/eIGLQ74u3F
— Jonathan Kegges (@JonathanKegges) May 11, 2022
Ethridge said lifeguards are on alert in case of any rescues, but suggests beachgoers stay out of the water for now.
“Right now, probably the number one most dangerous thing with the ocean is rip currents, that is why we are here. That’s why we put so much time into training,” Ethridge said.
[RELATED: Here’s how to stay safe when dealing with rip currents]
Volusia County officials offered the following rip current tips:
- If you are caught in a rip current, remain calm and do not fight the current. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and then swim to the shore.
- If you are unable to swim out of the current, calmly float or tread water. If you are unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving or yelling for help.
You can monitor rip current alerts on ClickOrlando.com’s severe weather alerts.