Rip Current — Eastern Cape May, New Jersey

2022-05-31 · Eastern Cape May, New Jersey

Event narrative

Time of event estimated from media reports. 19 Year old man died after he and 3 others encountered a rip current. Two others were rescued and one made it to the shore on his own.

Wider weather episode

A group of four swimmers was caught in a rip current off of a Wildwood, NJ beach late in the afternoon of May 31. Weather conditions were hot and dry, with relatively calm seas. The risk for rip currents was considered low. The beach was unguarded at the time. Following a 911 call, Wildwood firefighters rescued two swimmers, who had drifted 100 to 200 yards offshore. One reached shore on his own. The fourth, a 19 year old man, was not spotted after the initial distress call.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1017999. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.