The New York region won’t exactly have beach weather this Memorial Day weekend, but meteorologists are warning any beachgoers to be on the lookout for dangerous rip currents.
Beaches across Long Island’s South Shore were facing high rip current risks Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Those risks were expected to remain active until at least Saturday.
“Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone,” NWS said in a statement. “Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”
Jersey Shore beaches were under a moderate risk warning for rip currents Friday. Swimmers and waders there should exercise caution, listen to lifeguards and heed flag-warning systems, NWS meteorologist James Tomasini said.
Anyone caught in a rip current should not swim against the current, and should instead swim parallel to the shore until escaping the current, experts previously told Gothamist. In Queens, a section of Jacob Riis beach will likely remain off limits to swimming this summer due to erosion, which leads to rip currents.
Tomasini said the metro area would experience windy conditions at the start of the holiday weekend, including gusts reaching 20 mph Saturday.
There was a roughly 20% chance of scattered showers then, with temperatures predicted to peak in the mid-60s under gray skies.
“Going through the weekend and into early next week, we're going to see a slight warming trend,” Tomasini said.
Sunday and Monday will bring dry conditions and sunshine, as well as temperatures hovering around 70 on Memorial Day, according to the forecast.
