Hurricane Gabrielle Creating Dangerous Rip Currents Along North Carolina Coast
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Coastal officials are warning beachgoers to stay cautious after the National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a rip current warning for New Hanover and Pender County beaches as Hurricane Gabrielle churns offshore.
The advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, with forecasters cautioning that dangerous rip currents are already present along the coast.
Life-Threatening Conditions Despite No Landfall
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Gabrielle was a Category 4 hurricane located about 520 miles east-northeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph.
Though the storm is not expected to make U.S. landfall, its powerful swells are already producing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions for North Carolina’s coast.
What Beachgoers Should Know
According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, rip currents are narrow, fast-moving channels of water that can sweep even experienced swimmers far from shore.
Signs of a rip current may include:
- Darker, choppy water
- Breaks in the wave pattern
- Foam, seaweed, or debris moving away from the beach
If caught in a rip current:
- Do not swim against it.
- Float and try to swim parallel to the shoreline until free.
- If unable to escape, face the shore and wave for help.
Other Tropical Disturbances Developing
While Gabrielle dominates the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two additional tropical waves east of the Caribbean, both with strong chances of developing into cyclones in the coming days. Their potential impacts on the U.S. East Coast remain uncertain.
Do you think more safety patrols should be deployed on Carolina beaches during rip current warnings? Share your thoughts in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
