High rip current risk at New York beaches days after teens disappeared in water at Jacob Riis Park
NEW YORK -- A high rip current risk is in effect Monday at ocean beaches in Brooklyn, Queens and on Long Island.
That includes beaches along the Rockaways, like Jacob Riis Park, where two teens disappeared in the water last week, Coney Island Beach and Manhattan Beach in New York City.
The National Weather Service issued the high rip current warning and said anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the water.
What is a rip current?
A rip current is a powerful, narrow channel of fast-moving water that flows from the shore out to the sea. They often appear as a calm, narrow strip of water between areas of breaking waves, which can be misleading.
A high rip current will pull swimmers away from the shore, according to the National Weather Service. If you get caught in a rip current, officials say to swim in a direction parallel to the shoreline.
Teens disappear in water at Jacob Riis Park
Two teens went into the water just after 6 p.m. Friday and have not been found. There was a massive search over the weekend, with marine unit divers and drones searching more than 600 square miles.
The rescue effort turned into a recovery effort, and has been paused.
"I have a teen myself and I am really, really terrified of the rip currents. If I hear that word, I'm not going to go near the water," said Dari Litchman, who was at the beach on Monday.
The parents of 16-year-old Elyhja Chandler said their son and his 17-year-old friend were swept up in the waves. It was unclear if they got caught in a rip current.
"One of the kids was there, they said the wave came in so hard," said his father, Urshell Chandler. "He was watching him, like, 'help me, help me...' then he just disappeared in the water."
"It's both kids, and I'm a mom, so I just wish we could find them both, you know, it's very hard," his mother, Aminatu Noah added. "I just feel empty, because he's my only son."
Lifeguards are on the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Officials say the calls for help came in just after 6 p.m.
One of the parents said the boys' friends tried to find a lifeguard, but couldn't and called 911 instead.
New York weather this week
The New York City area sees a break from the excessive heat to start the week, but temperatures will be in the 90s again by Wednesday.
Monday: Warm, breezy morning with temps in the 70s. Not as hot, windy and less humid into the afternoon. Highs in the low to mid 80s.
Monday night: Mostly clear and mild. Lows in the 60s.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hotter. Highs around 90.
Wednesday: Hot and humid with thunderstorms likely into the afternoon and evening. Highs in the low 90s, but it will feel like the mid 90s.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, cooler and less humid. Highs in the low to mid 80s.
Friday: Sunny, warm and pleasant. Highs in the low 80s.
See our summer heat safety tips here, and stick with the First Alert Weather team for the latest forecast and weather alerts.
