Hurricane Rafael has prompted an urgent ‘do not swim’ warning for Americans living in two states.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Coastal Hazard Message for Florida and Alabama due to the storm moving through the Gulf of Mexico.
Mobile and several places in the Sunshine State are along the path of the storm that is moving into the gulf, increasing swell that will create giant waves.
Los Angeles beaches are also under a high wind warning, which could form waves up to seven feet high.
All three coastal regions are also expected to see dangerous rip currents, powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water.
The NWS warned there is an increased risk of drowning due to the rip currents that could pull swimmers out to sea, wash people off beaches and capsize small boats.
Hurricane Rafael has prompted an urgent ‘do not swim’ warning for Americans living in two states
Hurricane Rafael barreled over Cuba on Wednesday and is currently moving into the Gulf of Mexico, reaching the middle by Saturday, but its high winds are impacting coastal parts of the US.
The storm’s movement is creating a swell off the coast of the US, which is a a series of waves that travel long distances across the ocean.
Mobile could see large waves breaking of five to six feet in the surf zone.
The alert includes Mobile Coastal and Baldwin Coastal Counties.
A high rip current risk is in effect through late Monday night and the high surf advisory until 7pm ET on Saturday.
The Coastal Hazard message for Florida included Escambia, Santa Rosa Coastal and Okaloosa coastal counties, which have the same timelines as those in Alabama.
Tallahassee received a separate alert, warning locals of large breaking waves of up to six feet at Franklin county beaches.
The high rip current risk will remain until late Sunday night and the high surf until 6pm ET on Friday.
‘Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions,’ reads the message.
The NWS issued a high surf advisory for the Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands on Wednesday, between 50 and 100 miles off the coast of California.
‘Breaking waves of four to seven feet will impact east-facing portions of Catalina Island due to strong Santa Ana winds,’ reads the alert.
Hurricane Rafael barreled over Cuba on Wednesday and is currently moving into the Gulf of Mexico , reaching the middle by Saturday, but its high winds are impacting coastal parts of the US
‘Avalon and Two Harbors will be impacted, and minor nuisance coastal flooding may be possible.’
The alert is in effect until 7pm ET.
‘Remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions, or stay near occupied lifeguard towers,’ the NWS shared in the message.
‘Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.’
The gusty winds could also blow around unsecured objects and knock down trees and power lines.
‘Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution,’ the NWS statement shared.
The message was also issued to beaches along Los Angeles county, San Gabriel Valley, Ojai Valley, Palos Verdes Hills and Western Antelope Valley Foothills.
Los Angeles and Orange counties on Thursday will be windy with a high of 72 miles per hour, dropping to 48 miles per hour overnight, reports ABC News.
The high wind advisory is also known as a red fag warning, meaning ‘critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly and any fires that start may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish,’ according to the NWS.
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