Hurricane Ernesto is expected to bring dangerous conditions to sections of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine this weekend. Despite the enjoyable summertime temperatures, treacherous rip currents and unsafe surf are predicted to impact beaches in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Long Island, New England, and parts of Maine. Rip currents, different from rip tides, are powerful narrow channels of fast-moving water that can move at speeds of up to 8 feet per second. Beachgoers are warned to stay out of the water if advised by lifeguards and to swim parallel to the shore if caught in a rip current.
The Northeast, including New Jersey, Long Island, and New England, should see dangerous rip current conditions by Saturday, with waves reaching 6 to 8 feet in Georgia and the Carolinas. Parts of Maine may see waves as high as 10 feet. The Florida/Georgia coastal bend, North Carolina Outer Banks, and parts of Maine are expected to see the worst impacts in the US. While Ernesto is not expected to make landfall in the United States, it might reach parts of Canada. Forecasters anticipate the storm’s impact to last until late Monday. Beachgoers are urged to be cautious, as the uptick in vacationers due to pleasant summertime temperatures poses potential dangers. Piers, jetties, sandbars, and other water features are also at heightened risk during such conditions.
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