High Waves, Rip Currents Pose Risk to Area Swimmers
By Christina Lee Knauss
Photos by Keith Jacobs
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Swimmers need to show extra caution around the area this weekend as a combination of Hurricane Bill and a new moon cause potentially dangerous conditions.
Officials from the National Weather Service, as well as local law enforcement and emergency service workers, say Bill could produce high waves and possible rip currents.
The hurricane, which packed winds of 105 miles per hour as of 11 p.m. Friday, has been downgraded to a Category 2. It's expected to pass between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda over the weekend, and impact the South Carolina coast with higher than normal waves, possible rip currents and beach erosion through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Service has issued a high surf advisory for the weekend stretching from the northeast coast of Florida all the way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Emergency officials on areas of the North Carolina coast are also watching for possible coastal flooding from Bill.
Local surfers hit the waters around the Grand Strand Friday in search of the area's equivalent of the perfect wave, as waves churned up by Bill's passage 500 miles offshore started to make their way toward the area.
Officials are urging locals and tourists alike to be safe in the water this weekend, watch for rip currents and listen to instructions from lifeguards.
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"We're looking for larger than normal waves through Sunday, and we'll be working with the area lifeguard services to make sure people stay safe," said Mark Kruea, public information officer for the City of Myrtle Beach. "The weather is supposed to perfect for being on the beach, so we're asking our visitors to use some common sense and not venture too far into the ocean if things get rough."
Kruea said lifeguards will sometimes issue advisories and ask swimmers not to go in any further than waist deep if conditions get too rough.
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