Rip Current — Suffolk, New York

2002-08-10 · near Montauk, Suffolk, New York

Wider weather episode

A large high pressure system covered the area. The surface ridge axis extended northeast off the Mid Atlantic Coast, south of the coastal waters. An extratropical system (former Tropical Storm Cristobal) was southeast of the offshore waters over the high seas.Southeast swells with a period from 8 to 10 seconds arrived across the east end of Long Island during Friday morning, August 9th and moved west across the south shore of Long Island Friday afternoon. Southwest winds circulating around the high were enhanced by developing sea breezes Saturday afternoon, August 10th. Wind speeds increased to 15 to 20 knots, which resulted in southwest wind waves. Significant wave heights built to 3 to 4 feet.The combination of these events led to the development of rip currents across the east end and south shores of Long Island and Queens.Three people died:An 18 year old male drowned around 3:00 pm EDT in Montauk, off the Atlantic Ocean Beach.A 17 year old male drowned around 5:45 pm EDT about 2 miles east of the East Moriches Inlet. "He was knocked over by a wave and sucked under the surf." The location was Cupsogue Beach on Dune Road.A 69 year old male drowned around 6:15 pm EDT in Rockaway Inlet.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5313168. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.