861
WHCA42 TJSJ 181833
CFWSJU
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
233 PM AST WED FEB 18 2026
PRZ001-002-005-008-010-012-VIZ001-190600-
/O.NEW.TJSJ.RP.S.0008.260219T1000Z-260221T1000Z/
SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-NORTHEAST-NORTH CENTRAL-NORTHWEST-
MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY-CULEBRA-
ST.THOMAS...ST. JOHN...AND ADJACENT ISLANDS-
233 PM AST WED FEB 18 2026
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS.
* WHERE...BEACHES ALONG THE NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST COASTS OF
PUERTO RICO, CULEBRA, ST. THOMAS, AND ST. JOHN.
* WHEN...FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS...RIP CURRENTS CAN SWEEP EVEN THE BEST SWIMMERS AWAY
FROM SHORE INTO DEEPER WATER, WHERE IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO
RETURN TO SAFETY.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A LONG-PERIOD NORTHERLY SWELL WILL REACH
THE ATLANTIC BEACHES OF THE ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THIS SWELL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE LARGE BREAKING WAVES BETWEEN 6
AND 12 FEET, PARTICULARLY FROM LATE THURSDAY TO FRIDAY. HIGH
SURF CONDITIONS AND LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED
ALONG THE NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST COASTS OF PR, CULEBRA, AND THE
NORTHERN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY COULD BE
ISSUED LATER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE, WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS, JETTIES
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS, BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.
IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT, YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM, DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR
HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT, SWIM PARALLEL TO
SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.
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