NYC beaches closed to swimming due to Hurricane Ernesto's high rip current risk. Maps show latest path.
NEW YORK – All beaches in Brooklyn and Queens, along with Jacob Riis Beach, are closed to swimming on Saturday and Sunday due to expected dangerous rip currents caused by Hurricane Ernesto.
New York City Parks and the National Park Service say lifeguards will be on duty and patrolling beaches, while Parks enforcement staff will be posted along the coastline to enforce the swimming ban.
"New Yorkers should know the ocean is more powerful than you are, particularly this weekend. Do not risk your life, or the lives of first responders, by swimming while our beaches are closed," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
Tracking Hurricane Ernesto
Hurricane Ernesto made a landfall in Bermuda on Saturday morning as a Category 1.
As of 8 p.m. Friday, Hurricane Ernesto was bringing strong winds, life-threatening storm surge and flooding rain to Bermuda. It was a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds. The storm is strong with an estimated minimal central pressure reading of 969 millibars. The rainfall is also significant with a range from 5-9 inches.
Thankfully, Ernesto will not deliver any direct impacts to our region, but there will be some noticeable indirect impacts, mainly along our shoreline, even with the storm passing 600 miles to the east.
The greatest concern will be the threat of dangerous rip currents that will last through the weekend. Very high surf, with wave heights ranging from 5 to 10 feet, will likely keep many swimmers out of the water.
The pounding surf may lead to some erosion of the beaches. Coastal flooding may also become an issue as the high waves work in conjunction with the approaching full moon on Monday. Winds will turn gusty, especially along the immediate coast, with gusts between 25 to 30 mph.
How to get out of a rip current
The National Weather Service is predicting 5-8 foot waves at beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and is advising beachgoers this weekend to completely stay out of the surf.
When rough seas roll in, lifeguards can do 50 rescues per day at Jones Beach Field 6. Add in a nearly full moon this weekend, and they're reminding beachgoers that rip currents can quickly sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.
You may not see the rip tide – it can look like a discoloration in the water – but you will feel it.
"The best way I can describe it is this – imagine someone tied a rope around your waist and they went out really deep ... and someone started pulling that rope," said Ryan Davidoff, a lifeguard at Jones Beach.
"Within the span of about five or 10 seconds, you will get pulled out to the point where you will try to swim in to save your life," said Andrew Diano, a lifeguard at Jones Beach.
Do not try to fight the rip and swim against it back to shore; you'll waste energy.
"You're going to swim parallel to the beach and escape the rip. Swim to the side of the rip out of that discolored water, and usually at the point, you'll have lifeguards on your way," said Luke Olsen, a boatswain at Jones Beach.
Only swim where and when lifeguards are present.
Tri-State weather this weekend
Saturday: As we roll into Saturday, although there will be more clouds than sun, rain is likely to hold off until very late in the day, and mainly for western areas. High temperatures will be kept down by the extra clouds in place, only reaching the low to mid-80s, but humidity will rise significantly.
Sunday: Steadier rain then moves into the entire region during the overnight hours of Saturday, with more waves of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day on Sunday. Some of the rain may be heavy at times, and totals may exceed 2 inches for some locations.
Monday: Mostly cloudy and humid with showers and storms. Highs in the low to mid 80s.
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