Rip Current — Southeast Suffolk, New York

2010-08-08 · Southeast Suffolk, New York

Event narrative

Southerly winds and long period ocean swells produced dangerous rip currents on Sunday August 8th along the south shores of Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Surf observations from Suffolk County beaches reported moderate rip currents, with a few reports of occasionally strong rip currents.

There was a fatality due to drowning at Amagansett Beach when a female swimmer was caught in rough surf/rip current. Local media reported that other swimmers were caught in rip currents as they tried to save the woman, but other injury reports are unconfirmed.

A moderate risk of rip currents was issued in the surf zone forecast. This was also headlined in the Hazardous Weather Outlook issued Saturday evening and Sunday Morning. In addition, the Area Forecast Discussion issued Sunday morning indicated that periods of stronger rip currents were possible.

Wider weather episode

A long and persistent southerly fetch around Bermuda high pressure generated long period southerly swells. The combined southerly winds and swells created dangerous rip currents at the Atlantic facing beaches of Long Island on August 8th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 255979. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.