Tampa Bay Area Under High Rip Current Risk Warning as NWS Advises Caution Along Gulf Coast Beaches

A high rip current risk warning has been issued from Thursday morning through Friday evening for several Gulf Coast counties, from Pinellas to Coastal Lee. The warning alerts beachgoers and residents along the coast about the increased danger of rip currents that could pose a serious threat to swimmers, according to the

National Weather Service

.

“Dangerous rip currents expected,” warns the advisory from the

National Weather Service

, with the affected areas being Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte, and Coastal Lee. The specific timing for the heightened risk is from this morning until tomorrow evening. Rip currents pose significant risks because they can sweep even the strongest swimmers out to deeper waters.

The

National Weather Service

predicts mostly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of showers before 10 a.m. Today will be followed by partly cloudy nights and mostly sunny days, with daytime highs in the high 80s and lows in the low 70s. Changing winds could contribute to hazardous water conditions.

Residents and visitors are urged to take precautions and heed the advice from the

National Weather Service

: “Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.”

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