[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 6/8/2011 5:18:07 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 080906
PNSPHI
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-082215-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
506 AM EDT WED JUN 8 2011

...RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK JUNE 5-11...

THIS IS THE FOURTH IN A DAILY SERIES OF SHORT CONSIDERATIONS FOR 
SUMMER BATHERS ALONG THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WATERS. 

RIP CURRENTS DO NOT PULL PEOPLE UNDER WATER AND OFTEN THEY ARE 
MISTAKENLY ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERTOW. 

RIP CURRENTS CARRY PEOPLE SEAWARD IN A NARROW CHANNEL OF WATER 
SOMETIMES LINED WITH SEAWEED AND FOAM. THESE CURRENTS CAN ALSO 
SOMETIMES BE SPOTTED AS A MUDDY COLORED STREAMER OF WATER.  THE 
CURRENTS CAN RANGE FROM 10 FEET TO OVER 100 FEET WIDE. 

THEY MOVE PEOPLE SEAWARD AT A RATE OF 1 TO 8 FEET PER SECOND... 
DEPENDENT ON THE STRENGTH OF THE BEACH DEPARTING WATER.  THE 8 
FEET PER SECOND EXTREME RATE IS FASTER THAN AN OLYMPIC SWIMMER CAN 
SWIM A 50 METER SPRINT.

IN OTHER WORDS...WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE!

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST WHERE THE CURRENTS WILL FORM AT A GIVEN 
TIME.  THEY TEND TO FORM IN LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN SANDBARS...AND 
ALSO NEAR STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROYNES (GROIN IN THE UNITED STATES)...
JETTIES AND PIERS. 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTERS CAN ACCURATELY PREDICT SHORT 
TERM WIND...SWELL AND TIDE CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY...RESEARCH HAS 
HELPED IDENTIFY WHAT WIND...WAVE AND TIDE CONDITIONS ARE MOST LIKELY 
TO PRODUCE FREQUENT OR STRONG RIP CURRENTS.    

USUALLY THE HIGH RISK DAYS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A COMBINATION OF 
VARYING CONTRIBUTABLE FACTORS INCLUDING SWELLS AND WAVES INCREASING 
ABOVE 4 FEET...A LONGER PERIOD SWELL...AND/OR A STIFF ONSHORE WIND 
THAT ASSISTS IN BUILDING THE WATER ON THE BEACHES. 

FOR OUR AREA...A REASONABLY ACCURATE CALCULATOR FOR A TYPICAL SUMMER 
DAY HERE ALONG THE NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE COASTS MIGHT OFFER A 
MODERATE RISK FOR A 3 FOOT SWELL WITH A 10 SECOND PERIOD BETWEEN THE 
SWELLS...AND A SOUTHEAST WIND OF 15 MILES PER HOUR. 

INCREASE THE WIND TO 20 MPH OR INCREASE THE SWELL PERIOD TO 13 
SECONDS BETWEEN LARGER WAVES OR INCREASE THE SWELL FROM 3 TO 6 FEET 
AND THE RISK VALUE INCREASES A CATEGORY TO ...HIGH.

NO MATTER...HIGH RISK OR NOT...BE ALERT FOR RIP CURRENTS EITHER 
VISUALLY OR FROM ON SITE BEACH LIFE GUARDS AND USE THE NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE SURF ZONE FORECAST TO PLAN AHEAD.

THE LIFE AT STAKE MAY BE YOUR OWN OR THAT OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY 
MEMBER. 

$$

DRAG