The National Weather Service Mount Holly has issued a high rip current alert along the New Jersey coastline for Monday, Aug. 26. Very strong rip currents will be dangerous for anyone who enters the surf. The NWS advises beachgoers to stay out of the surf today. Surf conditions are likely to continue through the week.
If you are caught in a rip current, relax and float. Do not swim against the current. Rather, you should swim in a direction that follows the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
DOWNBEACH - As the summer season draws to a close and many lifeguards return to their colleges, universities and teaching jobs, staffing of beaches becomes limited.
According to Margate Fire Chief Dan Adams, who also oversees the Margate Beach Patrol, it is imperative that beachgoers heed public safety warnings that can save lives.
As the beach season begins to wrap up, there may be periodic beaches closed due to staffing. Please swim only at guarded bathing beaches and only during lifeguard hours. I can't reiterate that enough, Adams said. We're going into hurricane season, and rip tides and rip currents only get worse. Please, bear the advice of what we tell you, and only swim at guarded beaches.
Beaches in Ventnor, Margate and Longport are normally staffed by lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
According to Beach Patrol Chief Greg Smallwood, Margate will have all 12 of its guarded beaches open daily until Aug. 26.
Ten beaches will be guarded the week of Aug. 27-30: Argyle, Clermont, Gladstone, Huntington, Knight, Osborne, Thurlow, Cedar Grove, Washington and Madison avenues.
All beaches will be guarded Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept 2.
The weeks of Sept. 3-8 and the weekend of Sept. 14-15, Margate will have four beaches guarded - Brunswick, Huntington, Thurlow and Decatur. If staffing is available, Knight and Madison Avenue beaches will be covered.
Margate beaches are closed for the season after Sept. 15.
All the above opening and closing of beaches is subject to change depending on lifeguard availability and weather, Smallwood said.
In Ventnor, all beaches will be staffed until Labor Day, Sept. 2, Lt. Meghan Holland said.
Suffolk, Dorset, New Haven and Lafayette Avenue beaches will be guarded daily Sept. 3-8, and possibly on the weekend of Sept. 14-15.
Ventnor beach season closes on Sept. 15, Holland said.
Longport beach closings were not available at the time of this publication.
