Rip Current — Coastal Miami-dade County, Florida

2021-03-31 · Coastal Miami-dade County, Florida

Event narrative

Multiple media outlets reported two rip current related fatalities at Miami Beach, near 54th Street and Collins Avenue, on Wednesday, March 31st. Calls for help for two swimmers in distress (a father and his daughter) occurred around 5:45 PM EDT. A good Samaritan who jumped in to help was pulled out of the water unresponsive by rescuers but was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital. The daughter was rescued, no reports of her injuries, if any.

As for the father, a search was called off Wednesday night due to rough seas. The search resumed Thursday morning and Miami Beach Ocean Rescue found his body near where he was last seen in the water. Miami Beach Ocean Rescue reported at least 40 rip current rescues throughout the day on Wednesday.

The location of the drownings was in between two Miami Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguard stations located about 0.8 miles apart.

Wider weather episode

Strengthening easterly to southeasterly flow contributed to building seas and rough surf across the Atlantic waters. This led to hazardous marine and beach conditions to the South Florida Atlantic coast beaches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 941526. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.