High Risk of Rip Currents at North-facing Beaches on St. Thomas Through Tuesday Evening; Small Craft Advisory in Effect

High Risk of Rip Current is expected across the north-facing beaches of St. Thomas through at least Tuesday evening. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore which occurs most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and near structures such groins, piers and jetties.

Small Craft Advisory also in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday, for the coastal waters of northern USVI. A northerly swell is expected to reach the Atlantic off-shore waters this afternoon.

Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol, flags and signs. If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm. Do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help.If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and/or 7 feet or greater are expected to produce hazardous wave conditions to small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessel should avoid navigating in these conditions.

Stay off the rocks at Peterborg and similar places.
There have been enough deaths of people being swept off rocks and out of tidal pools.
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