WHUS41 KBOX 251439

CFWBOX

MAZ007-015-016-019>024-RIZ006>008-252115-



HIGH SURF ADVISORY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA

1038 AM EDT SAT SEP 25 2004



...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...



SOUTHEAST SWELL ASSOCIATED WITH DISTANT HURRICANE KARL WILL CONTINUE

TO BRING DANGEROUSLY HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS TO BEACHES ALONG THE 

MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTLINES. LONG PERIOD SWELL OF 10 

TO 14 SECONDS WAS BEING REPORTED LATE THIS MORNING. THIS SWELL HAS 

THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE BREAKERS AS HIGH AS 10 FEET...ESPECIALLY ON 

SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST FACING BEACHES. THE THREAT FOR THIS WILL COME TO 

AN END THIS EVENING AS THE LONG PERIOD SWELL WILL DIMINISH.



A RIP CURRENT...SOMETIMES MISTAKENLY CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A STRONG

BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING FROM THE BEACH TO THE SURF ZONE.

IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND EXHAUST AN

INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT.



IF YOU ARE A POOR SWIMMER AND ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM

PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL. ANOTHER MEANS OF ESCAPE

FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SWIMMERS...IS TO RIDE THE CURRENT OUT BEYOND

THE SURF ZONE WHERE THE RIP CURRENT DISSIPATES...THEN SWIM TOWARD

SHORE OUTSIDE THE EFFECT OF THE NARROW RIP CURRENT.



DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE CURRENT. IT

CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER.



STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET...

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.



$$



WTB/FRANK