The National Weather Service has issued a rip current advisory as Hurricane Leslie continues to wreak havoc in the Atlantic Ocean, creating powerful currents along the ocean beaches.
Hurricane Leslie, currently a category one storm packing winds upwards of 75 miles per hour, is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean approaching Bermuda. Its powerful winds and low pressure has caused oceans waters up and down the East Coast to swell and become unstable.
The NWS has continued to state the risk for rip currents during this time remains high with surf four to six feet above normal. Swells will continue to affect our area throughout the weekend as Leslie slowly makes its way Northward.
The advisory affects all Town Beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, including , Overlook and Oak Beaches. Beaches officially closed for the season on Labor Day, but residents are allowed to continue swim there without issue. Lifeguards, however, are no longer on duty.
"Given the situation we ask everybody to just follow what the highest authority suggests," said Babylon Town spokesman Tim Ruggeri.
The NWS advises most people to keep out of deeper, off-shore waters. If you happen to be swimming this weekend and become caught in the rip current, remember to stay calm and begin swimming parallel to the shoreline.
Once the current force lets up, begin swimming back to the beach. Do not swim directly against the current or towards the beach if caught - exhaustion can set in for even the strongest swimmers with rip currents.
