LBI Beaches Open; Swimming Bans in Effect Elsewhere Due to Dangerous Rip Currents

Long Beach Island beaches remain open while swimming bans were instituted at a number of beaches at the Jersey Shore Saturday due to dangerous rip currents caused by a passing storm.

But LBI bathers are being told to be wary of what could happen Sunday as the storm moves out.

Long Beach Township Beach Patrol Supervisor Don Meyers said his guards know to be extra vigilant for rip tides on Saturday after any nor’eater storm activity.

“We have two guards in each of our 62 stations keeping a sharp lookout for any rip tides,” he said.

Meyers added that, on Saturday, there was still a north-south current as the storm moved out. “The current is rearranging the sandbars. Once it all settles down is when we’ll really need to be alert for the rip tide locations,” he added.

Rip tides channel can change after every storm as the sand bars collapse in some spots and new channels are cut by the strong storm currents, he added.  

Meyers said that on Sunday and Monday, there will be more of a risk for rip tides as the current settles down.

"The weather will be nicer and the water will be calmer in the next couple of days. So people and our guards really need to be on the alert for rip currents.,” said Meyers.    

The National Weather Service's office in Mount Holly has issued a rip current warning through 9 p.m. today for all of New Jersey's ocean beaches and for Delaware.

"High surf and large swells will produce dangerous pounding surf and rip currents at the beaches," the warning on the service's website reads. "These rip currents will be life threatening for anyone who enters the surf. Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf."

In Point Pleasant Beach, Jenkinson's has posted a message on its Facebook page telling patrons that swimming is not permitted today because of the danger.

Ortley Beach in Toms River was flying a red flag, according to posts on the Facebook page Jersey Shore Hurricane News.

And Island Beach State Park has red flags at both swimming beaches, according to officials there.

In Manasquan, five of its beaches are flying yellow flags, but beaches that have a jetty on the right are flying red flags, because the current is pulling to the right, officials there said.

Beachgoers are urged to heed the flags and not swim.