[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 6/3/2013 4:53:18 AM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 030852
PNSPHI
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>025-027-
PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-031300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
452 AM EDT MON JUN 3 2013

...NATIONAL RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK JUNE 2 THROUGH 8...

THIS IS THE SECOND IN A DAILY SERIES OF CONSIDERATIONS FOR SWIMMERS 
AND WADERS HEADING FOR THE OCEAN THIS SUMMER. 

LAST YEAR...FIVE FATALITIES OCCURRED ON OUR NEW JERSEY BEACHES...AND 
VERY EARLY IN THE WARM SEASON...ALL PRIOR TO JUNE 21ST. 

ALL WERE YOUNG...UNDER AGE 25. 

ALL FATALITIES OCCURRED WITH TEMPERATURES ALMOST 10 DEGREES ABOVE 
NORMAL.

WATER TEMPERATURES WERE MUCH ABOVE NORMAL.

TO OUR KNOWLEDGE...ALL RIP CURRENT FATALITIES IN NEW JERSEY OCCURRED 
AT UNGUARDED BEACHES. 

THE FATAL DAYS HAD A COMMONALITY OF 2-3 FOOT WAVES IN THE SURF 
ZONE...WINDS ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR WITH A SOUTHERLY COMPONENT.
THE SEPARATING PERIOD BETWEEN INCOMING WAVES...KNOWN AS SWELLS... 
WAS GENERALLY 9 SECONDS OR LONGER.   

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE POSTS A DAILY FORECAST BY 6 AM EACH 
DAY,  WITH UPDATES AS NEEDED DURING THE DAY REGARDING THE RISK FOR 
THE FORMATION OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS. WHILE THERE IS VALUE IN 
THESE FORECASTS... RIP CURRENTS CAN FORM SUDDENLY AND TEND TO BE 
TRANSITORY EXCEPT THE RECURRENT RIP CURRENTS FOUND NEAR PIERS AND 
JETTIES. 

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS JUNE...WATER TEMPERATURES ARE NEAR NORMAL 
WHICH IS MUCH COOLER THAN AT THIS TIME A YEAR AGO. THE COOLER WATER 
MAY CAUSE A RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF EARLY SEASON SWIMMERS TO 
VENTURE INTO THE WATERS WHEN LIFEGUARDS ARE STILL NOT ON DUTY.  

THE TAKE AWAY FROM THE MESSAGES OF THESE PAST TWO DAYS...SWIM AT 
GUARDED BEACHES AND RESPECT THE POWER OF THE OCEAN,  ESPECIALLY ON 
SEEMINGLY WONDERFUL BEACH DAYS WITH COOLING ONSHORE WINDS AND LONG 
PERIOD SWELLS. 

$$
DRAG