Swimming bans have been instituted at a number of beaches at the Jersey Shore today due to dangerous rip currents caused by a passing storm.
The National Weather Service's office in Mount Holly has issued a rip current warning through 9 p.m. today for all of New Jersey's ocean beaches and for Delaware.
"High surf and large swells will produce dangerous pounding surf and rip currents at the beaches," the warning on the service's website reads. "These rip currents will be life threatening for anyone who enters the surf. Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf."
In Point Pleasant Beach, Jenkinson's has posted a message on its Facebook page telling patrons that swimming is not permitted today because of the danger.
Brick's beaches are under a red flag as well, Brick police said.
Ortley Beach in Toms River was flying a red flag, according to posts on the Facebook page Jersey Shore Hurricane News.
And Island Beach State Park has red flags at both swimming beaches, according to officials there.
In Manasquan, five of its beaches are flying yellow flags, but beaches that have a jetty on the right are flying red flags, because the current is pulling to the right, officials there said.
Beachgoers are urged to heed the flags and not swim.
Not all beaches have swimming bans, however. Sandy Hook beaches were open at 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the Visitor's Center.
Here's the link to the marine forecast page: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/phi/marine.html?back=Return+to+the+Marine+Forecast+Page
But hey, thanks for your very insightful post....it shows how little Martells employees know of the town they work in. Obviously, you don't live in PPB.