MIAMI, FL – The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a coastal hazard warning due to a high risk of rip currents and elevated wave heights up to 6 feet along South Florida‘s east coast beaches.
The High Rip Current Risk is in effect from Saturday, April 19, 2025 through Monday evening, April 21, 2025, for Coastal Palm Beach County, Coastal Broward County, and Coastal Miami-Dade County.
On Friday, April 18, 2025, a 12-year-old boy drowned while swimming off of Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Another teen drowned while swimming off Palm Beach County two weeks earlier.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties, and piers.
Remember to swim near a life guard and do not swim alone. Ask the beach patrol about ocean hazards when you arrive at the beach.
If you become caught in a rip current – do not panic – but yell for help. Remain calm and do not exhaust yourself. Stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, begin to swim parallel to shore.
Once you are away from the force of the rip current, begin to swim back to the beach. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current. Even a strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.
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