Danger lurks in the surf from Florida to Georgia, Bahamas for the last weekend of summer
By
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 19, 2019 5:08 PM EST
Stiff breezes and rough seas and surf are forecast to continue along part of the southeastern United States coast and in the Bahamas for the last official weekend of summer.
The dangers will increase as the ongoing sunny, hot weather over the South will have thousands of people flocking to area beaches this weekend.
In addition to gusty winds along the Atlantic coast from Florida to Georgia and the exposed north- and east-facing shores of the Bahamas, water will tend to lap along the shoreline in the form of large waves and above-normal tides as well as frequent and strong rip currents.
Bathers and small craft should exercise extreme caution when venturing into unprotected waters. Beach-goers should avoid venturing out past their knees as rip currents can develop, strengthen and shift without notice.
Anyone that gets caught in these rivers of water should not attempt to fight the current, which could lead to exhaustion, but rather focus on staying afloat and/or swimming parallel to shore. Eventually, the rip current will subside and the bather can then swim back to the beach.
"The main reason for seas and surf to remain stirred up along part of the southwestern Atlantic coast will have to do with a building area of high pressure near the Carolina coast this weekend," Jim Andrews, AccuWeather meteorologist, said.
The clockwise circulation around this high will create stiff east to northeasterly winds over hundreds of miles of the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida and Georgia and northeast of the Bahamas.
"Another player will be swells propagating outward from Jerry," Andrews said.
Even though Jerry is forecast to take a path well away from Florida and the Bahamas, swells from it and the circulation around the high pressure area can continue the rough surf into early week.
For people heading to Gulf Coast waters this weekend, conditions will be more tranquil now that Imelda is gone.
Meanwhile, the same weather pattern is likely to send a plume of tropical moisture westward across the Atlantic and across South Florida and the Keys this weekend.
The downpours may be frequent, heavy and gusty enough to spoil outdoor activities.
Summer officially ends early Monday morning, Sept. 23.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert of tropical weather and surf advisories. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather News
Danger lurks in the surf from Florida to Georgia, Bahamas for the last weekend of summer
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 19, 2019 5:08 PM EST
Stiff breezes and rough seas and surf are forecast to continue along part of the southeastern United States coast and in the Bahamas for the last official weekend of summer.
The dangers will increase as the ongoing sunny, hot weather over the South will have thousands of people flocking to area beaches this weekend.
In addition to gusty winds along the Atlantic coast from Florida to Georgia and the exposed north- and east-facing shores of the Bahamas, water will tend to lap along the shoreline in the form of large waves and above-normal tides as well as frequent and strong rip currents.
Bathers and small craft should exercise extreme caution when venturing into unprotected waters. Beach-goers should avoid venturing out past their knees as rip currents can develop, strengthen and shift without notice.
Anyone that gets caught in these rivers of water should not attempt to fight the current, which could lead to exhaustion, but rather focus on staying afloat and/or swimming parallel to shore. Eventually, the rip current will subside and the bather can then swim back to the beach.
"The main reason for seas and surf to remain stirred up along part of the southwestern Atlantic coast will have to do with a building area of high pressure near the Carolina coast this weekend," Jim Andrews, AccuWeather meteorologist, said.
The clockwise circulation around this high will create stiff east to northeasterly winds over hundreds of miles of the Atlantic Ocean east of Florida and Georgia and northeast of the Bahamas.
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"Another player will be swells propagating outward from Jerry," Andrews said.
Even though Jerry is forecast to take a path well away from Florida and the Bahamas, swells from it and the circulation around the high pressure area can continue the rough surf into early week.
For people heading to Gulf Coast waters this weekend, conditions will be more tranquil now that Imelda is gone.
Meanwhile, the same weather pattern is likely to send a plume of tropical moisture westward across the Atlantic and across South Florida and the Keys this weekend.
The downpours may be frequent, heavy and gusty enough to spoil outdoor activities.
Summer officially ends early Monday morning, Sept. 23.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert of tropical weather and surf advisories. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo