Rip Current — Coastal Palm Beach County, Florida

2022-05-02 · Coastal Palm Beach County, Florida

Event narrative

Several people were pulled out of the water and a 47-year-old male from Palm Beach County died after getting caught in a rip current at Midtown Beach in the Town of Palm Beach. Six additional people were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including a police officer who assisted with the rescues. Five of the 6 rescued were from out of state. Lifeguards were off duty during the time of the incident.

Wider weather episode

High pressure over the western Atlantic led to a steady onshore wind flow across the Atlantic coast of South Florida, creating ideal conditions for rip current formation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1032197. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.