By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that access to water would be prohibited at all City beaches—including Rockaway Beach—Wednesday, Aug. 20 and on Thursday, Aug. 21 due to the hazardous conditions expected as Hurricane Erin makes landfall. While the sand will remain open for visitors, swimming will be prohibited at all beaches. The National Weather Service predicts a dangerous rip current threat with large waves breaking from 9 to 13 feet, affecting beaches along the East Coast.
Lifeguards will not be on duty. However, lifeguards and Parks Enforcement Patrol will be posted along the coastline to enforce the prohibition. New Yorkers are advised to adhere to all instructions for their own safety, and to sign up for Notify NYC for updates on beach closures.
Photo Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Hurricane Erin track
“We are working with all of our City agencies to prepare for Hurricane Erin and keep New Yorkers safe,” said Adams. “This storm is expected to create dangerous rip currents and large waves, and so we are closing all city beaches to swimming on Wednesday and Thursday. We are asking New Yorkers to take precautions and please sign up for NotifyNYC for additional updates.”
The National Hurricane Center announced on Wednesday that Erin is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the beaches of the Bahamas, much of the east coast of the U.S., Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada over the next several days.
According to the National Weather Service, Erin, which was northeast of the Bahamas as of Wednesday morning, is forecast to track north and then northeastward off the East Coast over the next few days. While the center of the storm will remain well offshore, the expanding circulation and outer bands of the storm are expected to bring some impacts to portions of the East Coast, especially along the North Carolina Outer Banks. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect beginning late Wednesday for the threat of tropical storm force wind gusts, heavy rain/isolated flash flooding, and a life-threatening storm surge of 2-4 feet. Large waves could lead to significant beach erosion and overwash, leaving some roads impassible.
“People don’t realize the riptides and the heavy waves. You may not realize it. You may not think that it’s going to impact you because you’re a good swimmer. But in reality, it is dangerous, extremely dangerous, even for good swimmers. And so the decision was to nearly close down for today and tomorrow. Now, the hurricane may not hit land here. That’s what the National Weather Service is telling us. But it still would impact the coastal areas,” Adams said in an interview Wednesday with 94.7-FM. “So low-lying areas, people should be prepared. They should have to go. They should have to go back. And they should be, you know, really locked into NotifyNYC, so they’d be prepared for it. But you’ve got to be very careful. Even when the hurricanes don’t hit our shores, it still could be extremely dangerous.”
