Rip Currents Generated by Tropical Weather Claim One Life in Florida

Despite still being hundreds of miles at sea, the impacts of Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda are already being blamed for one fatality in Florida.  Both storms are churning up the seas off the U.S. East Coast, generating dangerous rip currents up and down the seaboard.

Humberto and Imelda Have Already Claimed One Life in the U.S.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office in Florida confirmed that a 51-year-old man drowned on Saturday after he was pulled out into the ocean by a strong rip current. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued rip current alerts for the beaches up and down the Atlantic Seaboard from South Florida and up into Maine.

A high rip current risk is currently in effect in a stretch of coastline from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, through North Carolina. A moderate risk is in effect for the mid-Atlantic region, encompassing the Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey beaches. Lastly, a low rip current risk covers the area from the south shore of Long Island, New York, to the north through Maine.

The rough seas have also prompted local NWS offices to issue Small Craft Advisories for a large part of the waters off of the East Coast.  Inexperienced boaters using smaller watercraft should avoid the water as the storms whip up the waves and winds.  

Authorities in Volusia County said that the drowning victim was from out of state. The sheriff's office said that it is not advised to swim in the ocean at this time. It is critical to pay heed to all posted warnings.

The NWS noted that the swells produced by Hurricane Humberto will continue to raise the risk of life-threatening rip currents for portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda throughout the week.  Even the strongest swimmers can be swept away by rip currents.

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