Community Corner

As Leslie Creeps North, Rip Current Risk 'High'

National Weather Service warning in effect through evening

Although Hurricane Leslie is hundreds of miles away out at sea, the risk of rip currents along Point Pleasant Beach and the entire Jersey Shore on Thursday afternoon and evening are high, according to the National Weather Service. 

Wind and wave conditions will support the development of "very strong rip currents," the NWS says. 

Swells from Leslie's large, slow-moving circulation are producing elevated surf along along most of the eastern seaboard, experts say. 

Find out what's happening in Point Pleasantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And that elevated surf has caused an abnormally high risk of rip currents, they say.  

"The rip currents will be life threatening to anyone who enters the surf," according to the NWS warning. 

Find out what's happening in Point Pleasantwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As current surf conditions are three-to-five feet high, the high risk warning will remain in effect through Thursday night across all New Jersey and Delaware coastlines, the NWS says. 

Leslie is not expected to hit Bermuda until the weekend, and is expected to stay far from the shores of the northeastern U.S., forecasters say. 

At the Maryland Avenue Beach in Point Beach, the surf was somewhat rough on Thursday afternoon, but was not a constant stream of towering waves. The few people on the beach were not venturing into the water, which is good for three reasons: the rough surf, the risk of rip currents and the lack of lifeguards. There will be no more lifeguards or bathroom facilities available at the beach this year.

According to Bob Weatherman Burger, Point Borough's unofficial meterologist, the forecast, as of 1:15 p.m. Thursday afternoon, for Friday through Tuesday is as follows:

"There will be warm temps on Fri., up near 90. However, the jet stream will take a nose dive south and east bringing in cooler air, on the west side temps will be in the 60's, on the east side in the high 80's. When cold air meets warm air things go boom. Saturday the cold air will push in and we should have some thunderstorms, some could be severe. All clear out by Sunday with a much cooler day, with temps in the 70's. So the best day out of the weekend will be Sunday.

"Monday and Tuesday will also be cool with a high of about 72. Sunday through Tuesday nights will be in the 50's."

For a live view of local ocean conditions, check out these surf cameras: 


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