Great Lakes Rip Current and Beach Safety March 2011 Wayne Presnell, NWS Headquarters Marine and Coastal Services

Marine and Coastal Services Oversees the delivery of marine and coastal weather products and services.Oversees the delivery of marine and coastal weather products and services. Creates internal and external partnerships, collects and validates marine and coastal service and mission needs.Creates internal and external partnerships, collects and validates marine and coastal service and mission needs. Participates in national outreach and education events promoting coastal (beach) and marine safety and awareness.Participates in national outreach and education events promoting coastal (beach) and marine safety and awareness.

Marine and Coastal Services Identifies and ensures marine and coastal forecaster training needs are met.Identifies and ensures marine and coastal forecaster training needs are met. Tropical Cyclone and Tsunami Warning Programs are under the branch as well.Tropical Cyclone and Tsunami Warning Programs are under the branch as well.

Weather Fatalities

Enhanced Rip Current Services 17 offices participating in a test where rip current information is highlighted in turquoise on NWS watch, warning, advisory map17 offices participating in a test where rip current information is highlighted in turquoise on NWS watch, warning, advisory map Rip Current Statement  

Rip Current Website Updating NWS rip current website to include more beach safety informationUpdating NWS rip current website to include more beach safety information

Coastal Hazard Message

Surf Zone Forecast Surf Zone - Area of water between the high tide level on the beach and the seaward side of the breaking waves. SURF ZONE FORECAST FOR SOUTH FLORIDA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 529 AM EDT MON MAR HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EAST COAST BEACHES TODAY... RIP CURRENT RISK: HIGH...WHEN THE RIP CURRENT RISK IS HIGH, THE SURF IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL LEVELS OF SWIMMERS. EVEN THOSE USING SURF OR BOOGIE BOARDS ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION. RIP CURRENTS ARE LIFE-THREATENING TO ANYONE ENTERING THE SURF. LIGHTNING RISK: NONE WATERSPOUT RISK: NONE UV INDEX: VERY HIGH SURF TEMPERATURE: 75 DEGREES THE NEXT FOUR TIDES AT THE LAKE WORTH PIER ARE: HIGH TIDE, MONDAY, 9:52 AM. LOW TIDE, MONDAY, 4:04 PM. HIGH TIDE, MONDAY,10:28 PM. LOW TIDE, TUESDAY, 4:42 AM..TODAY...PARTLY SUNNY. ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S. EAST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH. CHANCE OF RAIN 10 PERCENT.

Outreach and Education

Future of Beach Safety Services Improve numerical near shore wave modelsImprove numerical near shore wave models Develop Watches, Warnings, and AdvisoriesDevelop Watches, Warnings, and Advisories Incorporate more beach safety into outreach and education efforts.Incorporate more beach safety into outreach and education efforts.

Future Beach Safety Education and Outreach Important messagesImportant messages - People often overestimate their ability to swim in waves and currents and underestimate the power of waves and currents. - Drowning fatalities are most often tourists and visitors. - Fatigue is also a significant cause of drowning - Hypothermia is a problem

Contact Information Wayne Presnell, Meteorologist NWS Headquarters Silver Spring, MDWayne Presnell, Meteorologist NWS Headquarters Silver Spring, MD - Phone – x – Weather information at: Marine information at: /home.htm

Optional Slide Testimonial – Swimmer in New South Wales Australia used information he learned 12 years ago to save in his life in a rip current.Testimonial – Swimmer in New South Wales Australia used information he learned 12 years ago to save in his life in a rip current. Dawn Armstrong, a nurse from Indiana, lost her son to a rip current in FL. She targets high school students about the dangers of rip currents using NWS brochures and information. She has had many people thank her for the information as it helped save their lives when caught in rip currents.Dawn Armstrong, a nurse from Indiana, lost her son to a rip current in FL. She targets high school students about the dangers of rip currents using NWS brochures and information. She has had many people thank her for the information as it helped save their lives when caught in rip currents.